Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The surprise came Tuesday, when righty Nick Tropeano was reassigned to minor league camp. So as the Giants finalized their roster ahead of Thursday’s first pitch in Seattle, it became more a matter of formalities.
Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria will be ready to go (although the Giants have a DH spot in the AL ballpark). Alex Wood will not, placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 29, with a lower back strain.
The five-man rotation, at least to start the year, will be Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani and Aaron Sanchez. The bullpen will be lefty heavy, with southpaws Jake McGee, Jose Alvarez, Caleb Baragar, Jarlin Garcia and Wandy Peralta and righties Reyes Moronta, Tyler Rogers and Matt Wisler.
The catchers will be Curt Casali and Buster Posey; infielders: Belt, Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Wilmer Flores, Tommy La Stella and Donovan Solano; and outfielders: Alex Dickerson, Mauricio Dubón, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Mike Yastrzemski.
Both La Stella and Yastrzemski, who were plunked this week, should be ready to go. Seattle is starting a lefty, Marco Gonzales, so an approximate lineup could look like:
1. Slater, LF
2. Yastrzemski, RF
3. Solano, 2B
4. Longoria, 3B
5. Flores, DH
6. Belt, 1B
7. Posey, C
8. Crawford, SS
9. Dubon, CF
Although Longoria’s and Flores’ positions could be flipped. The taxi squad will consist of RHP Trevor Gott, LHP Conner Menez, C Chadwick Tromp, RHP Nick Tropeano and OF LaMonte Wade Jr.
Baseball season is here.