The most experienced pitcher on the Giants’ staff isn’t on their NLDS roster.
Johnny Cueto, a 14-year veteran who’s pitched in seven playoff series, is on SF’s taxi squad for the NLDS — ineligible to play save for an injury that requires a replacement.
The Giants left Cueto off the roster mainly because he’s not stretched out to a starter’s workload, manager Gabe Kapler said. It wasn’t an easy decision by any means. There are also auxiliary advantages, including the lineup flexibility of having 14 hitters as opposed to 13.
“We just weren’t able to get there, and that’s tough,” Kapler said of Cueto building his stamina back up. “In particular it’s tough because Johnny has meant so much to the organization and in particular the last couple of years we’ve come to really depend on him as a guy who can keep the mood light, just incredibly entertaining and so fun to watch on the field. And we’ve talked a lot this season about players expressing emotion and I think Johnny embodies that and I think in a very good way.”
Cueto went 7-7 on the year with a 4.08 ERA. The 35-year-old started 21 games in his sixth season with San Francisco, making up for a decrease in velocity over the years with varied delivery cadences and veteran savvy.
But a right elbow strain sidelined Cueto on Sept. 1. He started the day prior just hours after receiving IV fluids for flu-like symptoms.
Since returning from injury, Cueto made one appearance — a 2.1-inning, 48-pitch, one-run night out of the pen.
Cueto can impact the team even off the roster. He’s always helped lighten the mood and has taken ground balls at second and shortstop before games. Relievers have said they’ve enjoyed Cueto’s company in the bullpen — where he made his first and only career relief appearance on Sept. 30 after returning from the IL.
“The playfulness that we have seen on the mound from him has spilled over into our dugout and into our clubhouse at times,” Kapler said of Cueto.
He’s also taken the younger pitchers under his wing. When asked who were some of his favorite players growing up, 24-year-old Camilo Doval named Cueto first. They’re both from the Dominican Republic, and now they’re mentor and mentee.
“I’m always looking to learn and continue to develop, especially at this level,” Doval said Sept. 22. “I’m always talking to Cueto and some other veteran guys, like ‘Hey, if you see something that can really help my career, please bring it up because I want to continue to get better.’ That’s what I’ve done. Hopefully I can be a veteran one day and pass that on.”
Leaving Cueto off the NLDS roster means SF keeps both Alex Dickerson and Steven Duggar. The Giants decided having extra versatility in the lineup outweighs that potential loss of Cueto. Kapler and the Giants have been aggressive all year, especially early in games, with pinch-hitting to gain matchup advantages. Duggar and Dickerson, especially with so much of the Dodgers’ staff being right-handed, could play key roles.
But without Cueto, the Giants have one fewer pitcher who can provide multiple innings. In the playoffs this year, there’s no automatic runner extra innings rule, so games are more likely to extend into the teens of innings.
That would put greater value on pitchers like Cueto, who can hypothetically both start and eat up innings out of the bullpen. The Giants have other options in those scenarios, namely the starters not penciled in for the first two games — Logan Webb and Kevin Gausman. Kapler didn’t mention anyone by name, but a clear option would be Alex Wood, the likely Game 4 starter who’s also had a dearth of experience out of the bullpen.
“We do have guys who can pitch out of the pen if needed,” Kapler said. “Not saying that that’s the strategy that we’re going into this with, but I’m not concerned right now about getting into the 12th or the 13th inning and not having somebody who can pitch out of the pen. I think that, again, not specific to us, but I think we, all teams, can think about the starting pitchers who aren’t going in Game 1 and 2 as possibilities late in games.”
- Wilmer Flores is playing first base and batting second in Game 1. Kapler has repeatedly lauded his performance at the plate this season, which he thinks has flown under the radar. Darin Ruf will be a potent option off the bench as a pinch hitter, but Flores has hit .341 with a .947 OPS in 11 starts against LAD this year.
- During pregame warmups, players and reporters repeatedly stopped to look up at the sky as Blue Angels flew over Oracle Park for Fleet Week. The jets won’t fly during the game.
- Walker Buehler recorded a 0.79 ERA in his first five starts against the Giants this year, but allowed six runs in three innings in the season series finale. Buehler told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that part of the difference in his playoff approach is walking more batters in some situations; avoiding extra base hits at all costs is key for him.