Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija already giving Giants a boost
The San Francisco Giants are 11-11, which isn’t exactly stunning for a team that has every bit of the talent necessary to win another World Series. But a .500 record for these Giants at this point? That actually isn’t too bad at all.
The Giants have had their share of problems early: Madison Bumgarner’s velocity is down and hasn’t been at his best. The bullpen has been rough at times, in full-on crisis in others. And the Giants lost five straight games last week.
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The saving graces for the Giants this April have been their two big offseason pitching additions; Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. It was Samardzija who snapped that five-game losing streak last Friday night at AT&T Park, beating the Marlins 8-1 and even adding two hits and three RBIs at the plate. On Tuesday night, it was Cueto’s turn to impress. He threw a 1-0 shutout to beat the San Diego Padres, striking out 11 and earning his fourth win for his new team.
Samardzija is back on the bump Wednesday, as the Giants face the Padres again, and you can watch the game for free right here on Yahoo Sports as our MLB Free Game of the Day. It’s afternoon baseball, with first pitch at 3:45 p.m. ET and the Giants looking to continue a hot streak that’s meant four wins in their last five games. You can stream the game at Yahoo’s Sports Home, MLB index and video home.
Cueto has been stellar overall for the Giants, with a 4-1 record and a 2.65 ERA that is best among Giants starters. Samardzija, meanwhile, is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA. He hasn’t given up more than three runs in a start so far. Friday night’s performance — one run in 6.2 innings — was his best as Giant.
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This is especially important because both Matt Cain and Jake Peavy have ERAs in the sixes (6.43 for Cain; 6.86 for Peavy). Bumgarner, as we mentioned, hasn’t been in peak MadBum condition, though his nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings on Monday were encouraging for San Francisco. His overall strikeout-per-nine-innings rate is up, signaling Bumgarner might just have some kinks to work out.
The Giants’ offense has mostly done its part. Part of that losing streak was a three-game stretch in Arizona in which they scored only three runs. Overall, though, the Giants are fifth in hits, runs scored and on-base percentage, eighth in batting average and ninth in homers.
If the pitching gets back on track, the Giants still have all that World Series potential. With Cueto and Samardzija now on board as stabilizing forces, that should be easier.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
