Blake Snell to make SF Giants debut on April 8th vs. Nationals

Apr 2, 2024, 8:05 AM | Updated: 8:07 am

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants signs autographs for f...

(Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Blake Snell is close to making his San Francisco Giants debut.

Before facing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, Giants manager Bob Melvin announced that Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, will take the mound on Monday, April 8th, at Oracle Park against the Washington Nationals.

Snell threw 71 pitches over a four-inning start against the Giants’ Double-A affiliate on Friday, but Melvin said the team wants to get him one more tune-up before joining the starting rotation the next time around.

The left-hander will face his teammates in a simulated game on Wednesday in Los Angeles. After that, Snell’s next trip to the mound will be in an MLB game.

“You look at the build-up, which you go through in Spring Training, and we didn’t feel like we’re there yet for him,” Melvin said on Monday at Dodger Stadium.

“I think he’s going to feel a lot better [after Wednesday]. Also throwing to some Major League hitters, too. It’s been pretty easy for him the first couple of games. He had a lot of strikeouts with guys that are just sitting on a fastball. We can get some guys in there to probably challenge him a little bit more. He’ll be ready to go after that.”

Blake Snell is set to make his Giants debut Monday against the Nationals, Bob Melvin said. pic.twitter.com/MoQKBkqju3

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 2, 2024

More on new Giants pitcher Blake Snell

Snell, who signed a two-year $62 million deal with San Francisco during the final week of Spring Training, thrived during the 2023 season while playing for the San Diego Padres.

Over 32 starts (180 innings), the 31-year-old posted a 14-9 record to go along with a 2.25 ERA (best in MLB), 234 strikeouts (3rd in MLB), and a 1.18 WHIP.

Snell led all of Major League Baseball in hits allowed per nine innings pitched (5.8), although the southpaw had trouble going deep into games as he also led the league in walks (99).

During Snell’s career, the southpaw holds a 1.59 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 22.2 innings pitched at Oracle Park.

With Snell in the fold, the Giants could have an even stronger rotation for the playoff push once Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray return from the injured list.