Back to the San Francisco Giants Newsfeed

SF Giants: Gabe Kapler’s pitching strategy has plenty of critics, but new fans begin to emerge

With back-to-back blowout losses at Dodger Stadium, the first two games of the Gabe Kapler era were nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for the San Francisco Giants and their new manager.

Kapler employed an unconventional pitching strategy, using two of his top four starters, Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, out of the bullpen while also pulling Opening Night starter Johnny Cueto after just four innings and 63 pitches.

Kapler and his coaching staff insist a cautious approach at the outset of the season will keep his pitchers healthy, but veteran pitchers are accustomed to working deeper into games.