APRIL 2, 2022 • MERCURYNEWS.COM
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 80-82 · 4TH IN NL WEST
80-82 · 4TH IN NL WEST
How the SF Giants' potential closers view their committee role The Giants have yet to determine a preferred choice for the ninth inning.
Giants notes: Brandon Belt set to make his long-awaited spring debut ... against Clayton Kershaw The Giants must determine whether Belt's inflamed knee will be ready for the opener.
APRIL 2, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Mike Yastrzemski - Starting Saturday Yastrzemski (quadriceps) is starting Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Impact Yastrzemski was removed from Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Royals due to right quadriceps tightness, but he'll return to game action after missing several days. In spite of his absence, it seems likely that he'll be ready for Opening Day against the Marlins on April 8.
APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Belt - Making spring debut Saturday Belt (knee) is starting Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Impact Belt will make his first appearance in a spring game Saturday after dealing with knee inflammation to begin camp. It's not yet clear whether the 33-year-old will be ready to play by Opening Day, but it's encouraging that he's returning to game action late in spring training.
APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Giants 7, Rangers 7
APRIL 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brandon Crawford - Breaks out of spring slump Crawford went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Thursday's 13-2 win over the Rockies.
Impact Crawford had gone 0-for-10 across his first four Cactus League games, but there was never any real concern he'd get on track. The shortstop had a career year at 34 years old last season, posting a .298/.373/.522 slash line with 24 homers, 90 RBI, 79 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 138 games. Given his age and a career-best .334 BABIP fueling his offense last season, it's fair to expect noticeable regression in 2022. That said, he's likely to play almost every day since he's excellent defensively, and he should hit in the heart of the order.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Alex Wood - Looking good in spring Wood has allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings across three Cactus League starts.
Impact Wood allowed his first runs of the spring in Thursday's 13-2 win over the Rockies. The right-hander enjoyed a bounce-back campaign in pitcher-friendly Oracle Park last season, going 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 152:39 K:BB across 138.2 innings. He's still more likely to end up toward the back of the Giants' rotation, but he's a solid and budget-friendly source of strikeouts. Regression shouldn't be much of a factor -- his 3.47 FIP last season suggests he was slightly unlucky, and it was in line with his previous work before his two-year slump in 2019 and 2020. Wood should be fine as long as he can avoid injury absences.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
A name of their own: Hanks to toss 1st pitch for Guardians
Tom Hanks will launch a new era of Cleveland baseballAPRIL 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alex Cobb - Velocity up this spring Multiple scouts have heard that Cobb, whose fastball averaged 93 mph last season, is hitting 97 mph this spring, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com.
Impact Cobb's four-seamer and sinker each topped out at 95 mph last season, so if he has indeed added a couple ticks to his fastball, he could be in for a career year. The 34-year-old righty was excellent across 93.1 innings last season with the Angels, logging a career-high 16.5 K-BB% and a 53.3 GB%. If he can build back up to the 150-plus innings he logged in 2017 and 2018, Cobb could be one of the best fantasy values on the pitching side this year.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Giants 13, Rockies 2
MARCH 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Giants will benefit from MLB's temporary rule changes Most importantly, the temporary rule changes should help players around MLB stay healthy after a strange, shortened spring training.
MARCH 31, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Steven Duggar - Potential depth outfielder Duggar is making a case to begin the year with the Giants, Alex Simon of the Mercury News reports.
Impact Manager Gabe Kapler likes Duggar for his defense and his speed, per Simon. The 28-year-old outfielder hasn't done much on offense this spring -- he's 2-for-15 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored in six games. With LaMonte Wade (knee) set to miss the start of the season, Duggar is increasingly likely to make the Opening Day roster as a depth outfielder capable of playing all three positions. He'll also be a candidate as a pinch runner, though it's unlikely he works into a starting role without doing more at the plate.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony DeSclafani - Strong showing in win DeSclafani allowed one run on six hits and struck out two over 4.2 innings versus the Royals on Wednesday.
Impact DeSclafani has already covered 7.2 innings across two Cactus League appearances. He's allowed one run, eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts. The 31-year-old right-hander was excellent with a 3.17 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 152:42 K:BB in 167.2 innings last season. He'll likely slot into the middle of the Giants' rotation, with Logan Webb and Carlos Rodon occupying the top spots. DeSclafani should be a solid late-round option in fantasy if he can come close to replicating his 2021 campaign.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Rogers - Returns Wednesday Rogers (lower leg) allowed two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Royals.
Impact Rogers got the last out of the fifth inning after starter Anthony DeSclafani ran into trouble. It's encouraging to see Rogers back in action after he took a comebacker off the leg Saturday versus the Reds. The submarine-throwing righty posted a 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 55:13 K:BB across 81 innings as one of the Giants most reliable relievers last year. He added 30 holds, 13 saves, six blown saves and a 7-1 record. Rogers is expected to be part of the late-inning mix, though Jake McGee is considered the early favorite to close games this season.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Belt - Could play Monday Belt (knee) could make his spring debut Monday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact Knee inflammation has slowed Belt throughout camp, but the Giants still have some optimism that he'll be ready for Opening Day. If he's able to avoid the injured list, he'll still likely see a reduced workload over the first week or so of the season, as he'll have played in a maximum of two spring training games.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tommy La Stella - Playing second base Thursday La Stella will play the field at second base in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Impact La Stella has been limited throughout spring training while making his return from Achilles surgery in October, and he'll play the field after serving as the designated hitter in his Cactus League debut earlier this week. Manager Gabe Kapler said the 33-year-old was running at about 80 percent Tuesday, and his return to playing the field is a good sign for his Opening Day availability. La Stella could see more action at designated hitter early on if he's not at full strength to open the campaign, and at this point it appears he won't require a stint on the injured list.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Giants 9, Royals 5
MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Where will Michael Conforto play baseball in 2022?
With Opening Day almost here, Michael Conforto still needs a team for 2022. Jordan Shusterman ponders where he could end up.MARCH 30, 2022
Brandon Belt - Running bases Wednesday Belt (knee) will run the bases Wednesday and could make his Cactus League debut sometime this weekend, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Impact Belt has been dealing with knee inflammation recently but has participated fully in workouts despite being held out of game action. Manager Gabe Kapler has remained optimistic that the 33-year-old will be ready for Opening Day, and it would certainly be encouraging if he was able to make his Cactus League debut this weekend.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Yastrzemski - Could return over weekend Manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday that Yastrzemski (quadriceps) could be ready to rejoin the Giants' Cactus League lineup over the weekend, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicl...
Impact The Giants have been hit hard by the injury bug as spring training winds down, as both Evan Longoria (finger) and LaMonte Wade (knee) have gotten hurt this week and will begin the season on the injured list. Meanwhile, Yastrzemski and Brandon Belt (knee) are in the day-to-day category, with the availability of both players for the start of the regular season likely hinging on them getting back to the lineup this weekend or early next week. Yastrzemski exited Tuesday's game against the Royals with right quad tightness, but at this stage, the Giants don't seem to be viewing the injury as a major concern.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Evan Longoria - Expected to miss six weeks Manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday that Longoria (finger) is expected to miss approximately six weeks, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Impact Longoria underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger Tuesday, and his finger will be immobilized for at least 10 days before he resumes baseball activities. With the 36-year-old out of game action until at least mid-May, Wilmer Flores is slated to serve as the team's primary third baseman.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
La Stella gets first Cactus hacks; Rodón sharp SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tommy La Stella enjoyed a short but productive 2022 Cactus League debut on Tuesday afternoon. La Stella, who is working...
MARCH 30, 2022 • MLB.COM
Giants roll with punches with Wade, Longoria sidelined SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One day after learning they’d be without third baseman Evan Longoria on Opening Day, the Giants absorbed another signif...
MARCH 30, 2022 • MLB.COM
Mike Yastrzemski - Leaves with quad tightness Yastrzemski exited Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Royals with right quadriceps tightness, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact Manager Gabe Kapler said Yastrzemski's removal from the contest was precautionary, and at this point the outfielder isn't scheduled to undergo an MRI. The 31-year-old could be back in action within a couple days if the injury doesn't linger.
MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Giants 11, Padres 6
MARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
