Another Opening Day is upon us Giants Fans! Its 2019 and the season is about to begin. The Giants clearly go into this year with a lot of questions (who is playing left field). Anyway the Giants open 2019 on the road yet again, the Giants haven't hosted opening day since 2009 by the way. They open with a four game series in sunny San Diego where last year the Giants went 5-4 at Petco Park. They look to start the year off strong in what is going to be Bruce Bochy's last year at the helm. So here is to 2019, the most boring of offseasons in recent Giants history is over and these Games actually matter!
Game one: Madison Bumgarner vs Eric Lauer
Opening Day in San Diego, Mad Bum on the mound for maybe the final opening day in his Giants Career, Manny Machado making his Padre debut, I have even heard that Petco will be sold out? Will we see another magical opening day performance from Bumgarner like back in 2017? In all honesty I will be content with seven solid innings and enough run support to get the game to the bullpen. Giants take game one 4-2.
Game two: Derek Holland vs. Joey Lucchesi
Dutch Holland only went 6.0 or more innings 14 times last year which isn't terrible but I would like to see that number increase this year. In Games Holland started last year the Giants were a .500 team, he gives them a chance to win but I think the Padres win this one 5-2. Lucchesi builds off his decent 2018 campaign.
Game three: Dereck Rodriguez vs TBD
D-Rod makes his first start of the year after a surprise 2018 where he was one of the Giants biggest bright spots and most likely forced the trade of Chris Stratton. He struggled late in the year last season, but he will be out to prove that last year was not a fluke and he deserves to be here. The Padres have not announced a starter for this game. This one is a toss up, your guess is as good as mine.
Game four: Jeff Samardzija vs Chris Paddack
The Shark got roughed up in his last spring training outing against the A's, he faces Paddack who will be making his Major League debut, I will hopefully be able attend this game (work permitting). The Giants have already said that they will be cautious with Samardzija as he is coming off a season riddled with shoulder problems. Giants take the series finale by a score of 2-1, on get away day as they get ready to head up interstate 5 to Los Angeles.
I would hope for a series split, but I think that the Giants can take 3 of 4 here to start the year. The pitching is good, the defense is good enough to do well. The Giants have always played “Bochy ball” (solid defense and timely hitting) this team has the pieces to do that. Joe Panik has a had an incredible spring, the last few games Crawford showed impressive bat control going the opposite way. I like Duggar setting the table. This team might surprise people, in case you forgot this team was in the hunt for the division until they were swept in Cincinnati and the wheels fell off and the brass started to shut people down for the year. Maybe I’m just being an optimist but I believe in this team. So this year will be a surprise or I will be a drunk one or the other I’m okay with either outcome. HUMMMM BABY!
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