San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: A Pair of All-Star Cases
On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss a pair of All-Star cases: one to be a starter, and one just to go to San Diego.
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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Wednesday, the Giants and Colorado Rockies finished their three-game series, with the Giants taking a 5-1 victory and clinching a series win. Johnny Cueto earned his 13th win, while Jorge De La Rosa took his sixth loss.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles played a tremendous game on Wednesday, with the Orioles coming away with a 6-4 win in the 14th inning. The Dodgers also lost a game in the division, and now trail the Giants in the National League West by six games.
Here’s what went on Wednesday.
1 – Cueto Shoulders the Load
One way to avoid a bullpen meltdown: avoid the bullpen completely. Johnny Cueto did exactly that on Wednesday night, going the distance for his fourth complete game of the season, and giving the bullpen a night to rest and collect their thoughts.
The now two-time National League All-Star carved through the Colorado Rockies’ lineup en route to his league-leading 13th win. He allowed just five hits, all singles, plus one walk, and erased two of those singles with groundballs double plays. He also struck out eighth, and finished extremely well, retiring 17 of the last 18 he faced.
There was a little controversy after Cueto finished the eighth, as he had already thrown 110 pitches. But when the Giants added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning, pushing their lead to four, the ninth inning became Cueto’s. With two pitchers warming up in the bullpen, Cueto retired the side in order, clinching the win.
Cueto even did the unthinkable. He held deluxe Giants’ killer Nolan Arenado hitless in four at-bats, including a groundball double play in the first, and a strikeout with two on base in the fourth.
There’s no doubt that Cueto is worthy of his All-Star bid, but he’s building a great case to be the National League’s starting pitcher on Tuesday in San Diego. The Giants have won 16 of his 18 starts, with Cueto being the pitcher of record in 13 of those wins. His 0.997 WHIP is fourth in the NL. His 2.47 ERA is fifth. His 4.79 strikeouts-to-walk rate is fourth. His four complete games are unmatched in either league.
With Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list, and Madison Bumgarner scheduled to pitch Sunday, the door is open for Cueto to be the first pitcher on the mound Tuesday.
And speaking of All-Star cases…
2 – Brandon Belt Wants to Go to San Diego
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Cueto is assuredly heading to AT&T Park South for the All-Star game, and will be joined by Bumgarner and his catcher, Buster Posey. But first baseman Brandon Belt has an opportunity to accompany them, being one of the five players on the Final Vote ballot. He continued to make a strong bid for that spot on Wednesday with another great game.
Belt wasted no time putting the Giants on the board, crushing a triple into the right-center field gap, scoring Grant Green from first base to make it a 1-0 game. In the eighth inning, he added a double, and eventually scored as the Giants rallied for a pair of insurance runs.
Belt has had an incredible season, being the Giants’ best, and most consistent hitter. He leads the NL with 29 doubles. He’s sixth in the league with 49 walks, and fifth with a .399 on-base percentage. His .917 OPS (on-base plus slugging) is 11th. His four triples are tied for most among big league first baseman.
Don’t forget to vote, Giants’ fans.
Next: Giants Morning Minute: Groundhog Day
And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants have their final off-day before the long All-Star break, and then match up with the Arizona Diamondbacks in what will be the final series before the break for both teams. On Friday, the series opens with Jeff Samardzija facing off against Patrick Corbin.