There will be a Shark sighting this week in San Francisco.
After watching the first four games of the season from the bench, veteran right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija will start the Giants' 2020 home opener against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, manager Gabe Kapler told reporters after San Francisco's 3-1 win over the Dodgers Sunday night.
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Most expected Samardzija to line up as the Giants' No. 2 starter behind Johnny Cueto, but Kapler went with Tyler Anderson on Friday, Logan Webb on Saturday and Drew Smyly on Sunday.
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Normally, starting the home opener in front of a rabid home crowd is a big deal. But this season, with fans not allowed at Oracle Park due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first game of the season in San Francisco will have a different feel.
Samardzija is coming off a 2019 season in which he posted a 3.52 ERA in 181 1/2 innings over 32 starts.
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The 35-year-old is in the final season of his five-year contract with the Giants and could be moved ahead of the MLB trade deadline at the end of August. The shortened season means fewer chances for the Giants to showcase Samardzija to other teams. Assuming Samardzija takes the ball every fifth day, he should make six or seven starts before Aug. 31.
[RELATED: Samardzija hopes to carry heavy workload in 2020]
With no fans in the stands, the Giants won't play a day game Tuesday. Instead, Samardzija will fire the first pitch at 6:45 p.m. PT.
For the first time ever, this will be a good Shark sighting.