The San Francisco Giants could be set to introduce Rafael Devers to their home fans when they open a three-game interleague series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
The Giants acquired Devers in a blockbuster deal on Sunday, sending four players to Boston to acquire the three-time All-Star third baseman.
The question now is: Where will Devers play in the field, if he takes the field at all, behind Tuesday’s projected starter in left-hander Robbie Ray (8-1, 2.55 ERA)?
The Giants’ biggest hole in the infield has been at first base. LaMonte Wade Jr. was traded earlier this month and Dominic Smith was snatched from the scrap heap to start 10 of the last 11 games.
San Francisco already employs dependable third baseman Matt Chapman, but he is currently out of the lineup after spraining his right hand nine days ago.
Casey Schmitt started all six games on the Giants’ road trip last week and had hits in five of them, including grand slams in consecutive games against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday and Saturday.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey disclosed Sunday that he and manager Bob Melvin would meet with Devers after he arrived in San Francisco to sort out the preferences and possibilities.
San Francisco ace Logan Webb made one thing clear: If you’re concerned about where Devers plays defensively or if he’s used as a DH, you’re missing the point.
“He’s a guy you plug in there every day,” Webb said. “I don’t know where he’s going to hit, but I don’t think it really matters. The guy is a stud, plain and simple.”
Devers joins a team that seemed to find its hitting stride on a 3-3 trip to Colorado and Los Angeles. The Giants scored four or more runs in all six of the games after plating four or fewer in 19 of their previous 21 games.
The Giants hit just four home runs during their last homestand, which spanned six games. Devers has 15 homers this season, including one Sunday in his Red Sox finale against the New York Yankees.
Presuming the slugger is in the lineup Tuesday, he would face Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-3, 4.26 ERA) for the first time.
Cecconi wasn’t with the Guardians when they hosted Devers and the Red Sox for a three-game set in April. Devers went 5-for-13 in that series with five runs, three RBIs, two homers and a double. He has a .335 career average against Cleveland.
Cecconi has gone 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two career starts against the Giants.
Ray will be facing the Guardians for the sixth time, which includes five starts. He’s compiled a 2-1 record and a 1.93 ERA in those outings.
The veteran will be facing Jose Ramirez one game after the standout third baseman saw his on-base streak of 39 consecutive games end in Sunday’s 6-0 loss at Seattle. The Guardians were swept in the three-game set, totaling just five runs.
“He had multiple great at-bats,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of Ramirez’s 0-for-4 game. “Jose just continues to do incredible things. He’s one of the best hitters on the planet.”
Ramirez has gone hitless with a walk in his last 10 plate appearances against Ray after he singled in their first head-to-head matchup in 2021.
–Field Level Media
