SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants hired Farhan Zaidi as president of baseball operations in November, it was a question of when, not if, the organization would embrace “The Opener” strategy.
Manager Bruce Bochy was initially reluctant to use a relief pitcher to start a game, but the Giants’ first-inning struggles this season have given him no choice but to experiment. The franchise appears ready to use an opener for the first time on Tuesday as the club announced that reliever Nick Vincent will start against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Starter Tyler Beede was initially listed as the Giants’ probable pitcher for Tuesday’s game, but the organization announced Monday that Vincent will take Beede’s place.