Logan Webb took the mound tonight, just not for our humble San Francisco Giants, but for Team USA in their World Baseball Classic opener. His second pitch for the Stars and Stripes got blasted nearly 400 feet. He went on to retire the next dozen batters, discarding half of them by way of the K. My patriotism levels are admittedly very low right now, my Giants pride is through the roof, so… Good show, Logan! Way to bring it to those Brazilians!
Meanwhile, the boys scrapping it up back in camp improved to 10-2 in a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
RHP Tyler Mahle made his second start of the Cactus League and wrestled with command over his two innings. Three walks put Mahle in the weeds, but he bushwhacked out of trouble with four strikeouts and minimal contact meant stranded runners and a scoreless outing. The live-play workload has been minimal so far for the veteran, who is returning from a clipped 2025 campaign thanks to shoulder fatigue, but fans got a taste of an effective mix that leans heavily on a rise-and-ride four-seamer and split-finger.
RHP Trevor McDonald took the ball in the 3rd and put together another convincing roster audition over the next three frames. He managed some traffic in the 3rd and stranded Tyler Stephenson at second, after a very loud double, in the 5th with the help of six groundouts. The uptick in velocity has turned heads, but a sustained success for McDonald lies on his ability to do what he did this afternoon: work efficiently by dictating contact into the ground.
Competition for the fourth outfield spot stayed hot after positive days from top contenders and peripheral candidates.
While long-shot for the role due to his non-roster invitee status, Jared Oliva started in centerfield and batted lead-off. After getting plunked by Red starter Andrew Abbott, he promptly swiped two bases and scored on another NRI Victor Bericoto’s sacrifice fly. Bericoto would double in his next at-bat (9-for-18), setting up Matt Chapman’s 454-foot homer, his second of spring.
But it was Luis Matos who was loudest with the bat today. Option-less and backed into a corner, Matos bears the burden of proof. If he believes he should be in the San Francisco clubhouse in two weeks, he needs to supply evidence to back up his claims. He can’t beat around the bush anymore, he needs to be emphatic — an apt word to describe the kind of exit-velocity and distance he generated with his bat Friday afternoon.
A first inning double off the wall in center would’ve been a homer in every Major League Park. The knock easily scored Bryce Eldridge after his triple. Matos followed his second double with his second homer of spring off right-handed reliever Yunior Marte in the 6th.
Matos has 9 hits in 20 at-bats so far in Arizona and has yet to strike-out. Impressive, while not totally surprising given his known bat-to-ball skills. What comes as a bit more of a shockis Grant McCray, the 40% K-rate Kid, has kept his free-swingin’ ways in check. He’s struck out just twice so far in 20 trips to the plate and worked 6 walks. Another base-on-balls to go along with a bunt single this afternoon, and McCray had a productive game checking-off items on his To-Do list. If he makes this a habit, and pairs some plate discipline with his raw athleticism, he might find his way on the Opening Day roster.
The same can’t be said for Jerar Encarnacion. As a PH-DH, he went 0-for-2 today and is now just 4-for-23 with no walks, no extra base-hits, no RBIs. Now Spring Training performances aren’t everything, but considering how the likes of Matos and McCray are playing right now, the big man is in serious danger of getting left behind.
