Gausman gets Opening Day start for Giants

Earlier this spring, manager Gabe Kapler noted that Kevin Gausman was walking around with quite a bit of confidence after emerging as the Giants’ top starter last year.

“Gausman is looking like he knows how good he is,” Kapler said. “It’s a really good thing for us.”

Gausman’s confidence should only continue to grow now that he’s been tapped to start for the Giants on Opening Day in Seattle on April 1. Kapler made the announcement on Wednesday, adding that Johnny Cueto, last year’s Opening Day starter, will pitch the second game against the Mariners.

It will mark the second Opening Day assignment for Gausman, who also earned the nod with the Orioles in 2017.

“I think it's a huge honor for Kevin,” Kapler said Wednesday. “It’s very well deserved based on his performance last year and some of his lights-out outings already this spring. It's always a nice conversation for a manager to have, too. I’m really happy for him and excited to watch him pitch on Opening Day.”

Gausman, 30, posted a 3.62 ERA with 79 strikeouts over 59 2/3 innings in 2020 and chose to stay with the Giants after accepting a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer in November. Gausman reportedly received multiyear offers from other teams, but he felt comfortable returning to San Francisco and said he was looking forward to working with catcher Buster Posey, who sat out the '20 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

Cueto pitched for the Giants on Opening Day last year and is the longest-tenured member of the rotation, but he logged a career-worst 5.40 ERA over 63 1/3 innings last year, the highest mark among qualified starters in the National League. Kapler said he had a good conversation with Cueto recently to lay out the Giants’ rotation plans for the beginning of the season.

“I think he’s in an understanding place,” Kapler said. “He’s the pitcher with the most service time of our group and he deserves and earns the type of respect to be communicated with. All of our pitchers do, but in particular I think he’s deserving of that style of conversation.”

Kapler said Cueto is expected to start the club’s home opener against the Rockies on April 9, which suggests that the Giants are planning to use a five-man rotation at the outset of the season. The Giants haven’t announced the rest of their starting staff, but Anthony DeSclafani, Logan Webb and Aaron Sanchez figure to be in the rotation mix as well. Alex Wood, the lone lefty in the group, remains a question mark, as he’s been slowed by back stiffness and could end up opening the season on the injured list.