When it comes to the Giants' starting rotation, one thing is clear: Johnny Cueto will start Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After that, much of it is a guessing game.
Jeff Samardzija will follow Cueto, as the two veterans are the surest things on this staff. Kevin Gausman, who will start Monday's exhibition against the A's, figures to be in the rotation. The same goes for Drew Smyly. Logan Webb and Tyler Anderson should have big roles as well. But what exactly is a starting rotation for manager Gabe Kapler in this shortened 60-game season?
Broadcaster Mike Krukow, who pitched 13 seasons in the bigs, believes Kapler's creativity will be on full display this year.
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"I think that you're gonna see piggy-back with a couple of rotation spots, where one guy will throw three, four innings and another guy will come in and try and do the same," Krukow said Monday on KNBR's "Murph & Mac" show. "The Giants have been stretching out personnel in their bullpen to be able to throw three innings.
"So I think you're going to see some unconventional use of the rotation the first time through, and I think it all has to do with the abbreviated prep time that they had."
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Gausman and Smyly both have experience as starters and relievers and did so last season. Webb was used strictly as a starter last year in the majors, however, he has made it clear he's comfortable in either role and could be used a ton as the shortened season tosses any innings restrictions out the window. Anderson only has pitched out of the bullpen twice in his four-year career, though he could see action there at times this season.
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It's understandable why Kapler would go with this method early on the season. Pitchers nearly had four months off before coming to Summer Camp, and it might not be reasonable to expect their normal pitch count. This is where depth will come into play, whether you're traditionally a starter or not.
But Krukow believes this will last much longer than the first week or two for the Giants.
"I think they like the idea of a starting pitcher going 70, 75 pitches and then having other guys come in and piggy-back," Krukow said. "And they can piggy-back according to the type of lineup that they're going to see."
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That might not sit well with veterans like Samardzija, who has made it clear he still wants to be a workhorse as a starter, and is set to be a free agent after the season. Kapler will have to go case by case and be able to mesh well with players young and old in such an odd season. The manager has expressed the importance of versatility from his pitchers, and that won't change any time soon.
For Kapler, this is just another obstacle to juggle in his first season managing the Giants. Nothing is "normal" this season, and that could ring especially true for San Francisco's pitching staff.