47 Johnny Cueto SP

Cueto was named the starting pitcher for San Francisco's Opening Day game against the Dodgers, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Jeff Samardzija will pitch the second game of the season against the Dodgers. Cueto allowed five runs on nine hits across 1.2 innings during Tuesday's 16-3 spring loss to the Cubs. The veteran right-hander missed a majority of the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 34-year-old returned to make four September starts and posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and gathered 13 strikeouts across 16 innings.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Cueto is "definitely in line to start the first game of the season" March 26 against the Dodgers, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Kapler neglected to officially name Cueto his Opening Day starter, but things certainly appear to be trending in that direction. The veteran right-hander missed most of the 2019 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he did return for four starts in September. Cueto posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 38:13 K:BB over 53 innings during 2018 before going down with the injury.

Cueto is expected to start Tuesday's spring training game against the Cubs, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Given the remaining spring schedule, Cueto appears to be in line to get the nod for the Giants during their Opening Day matchup against the Dodgers on March 26. The 34-year-old missed nearly the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Cueto posted an impressive 3.23 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 136:53 K:BB during 2018 and will look to lead a young San Francisco rotation following the departure of Madison Bumgarner this offseason.

Cueto (1-2) took the loss after giving up five runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over two innings in Friday's 9-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Giants management was debating whether to pitch Cueto one last time in a meaningless game, and all parties -- including his fantasy owners -- probably wish they hadn't given the poor results. Most of the damage done to the 33-year-old was via the long ball (three homers), pushing his HR/9 to 1.7 and ERA to 5.06 through four starts. On a positive note, Cueto's velocity (91.3 mph average) returned to his pre-Tommy John levels, which generates some hope for a bounce-back campaign in 2020 following a full offseason of rest.

Cueto is listed as Friday's starter against the Dodgers.

The lineup card has not yet been released, but Cueto is listed as San Francisco's starter opposing Walker Buehler. There was a chance Cueto would not start this weekend for rest purposes (general arm soreness), but it appears he will get to make a fourth and final start of the campaign. He has a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 14 innings through his first three starts back from Tommy John surgery.

Manager Bruce Bochy admitted Tuesday that he wasn't sure whether Cueto would make a start during the Giants' season-ending series with the Dodgers this weekend, the Associated Press reports.

After tossing five scoreless innings in both of his first two starts back from the injured list, Cueto struggled mightily in his most recent turn last weekend in Atlanta. He was charged for four runs in four innings in the loss, giving up only two hits but issuing five walks. Bochy noted the Giants will see how Cueto looks during his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday before determining whether the right-hander is good to go for his next turn, which comes up Friday.

Cueto (1-1) took the loss Saturday as the Giants fell 8-1 to Atlanta, giving up four runs on two hits and five walks over four innings. He struck out five.

The veteran right-hander's recovery from Tommy John surgery finally hit a serious snag. Cueto tossed only 39 of 78 pitches for strikes, and a four-run second inning ruined his 0.00 ERA since his return. He'll take the mound one more time in 2019 in a home start against the Dodgers on Friday.

Cueto allowed three hits and two walks over five shutout innings Sunday, striking out two batters in the win over Miami. He did not factor in the decision.

Since his return from the injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season, Cueto has fired 10 scoreless innings in two starts. The 33-year-old left the game in line for his second victory, but the bullpen allowed Miami to tie things up in the seventh inning. Cueto will look for another strong outing in Atlanta on Saturday.

Cueto will make his next start Sunday against the Marlins, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Cueto was originally expected to get the ball Tuesday in Boston, but the Giants want to keep him on regular rest after the veteran right-hander felt good in his first start back from Tommy John surgery. He stuck out four across five scoreless innings against the Pirates in that outing, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while tossing 69 pitches.

Cueto is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday at Boston, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cueto made his first outing of the season in Tuesday's win over the Pirates and delivered five scoreless innings, and he'll receive six days of rest before his next outing. The veteran right-hander needed only 69 pitches and could have an increased workload in his second start, though the Giants are likely to remain fairly cautious.

Cueto (1-0) picked up the win against the Pirates on Tuesday, giving up just one hit over five scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one as the Giants won 5-4.

Making his first start of the season after getting activated from the 60-day injured list coming off Tommy John surgery, Cueto was sharp, yielding just two baserunners before exiting after five innings and 69 pitches. He certainly looked healthy and back to form, and while he missed too much time to make a sustained impact this season, a strong finish to the year would bode well for Cueto's value for 2020.

Cueto (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list as expected ahead of his start Tuesday against the Pirates.

Cueto is ready to go after missing 13 months due to Tommy John surgery. He's back in time to make a few starts before the end of the regular season. When we last saw him at the big-league level, he'd recorded a 3.23 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in nine starts for the Giants last season prior to injuring his elbow, a strong bounceback from his 4.52 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 2017.

Cueto (elbow) is scheduled to make his season debut Tuesday against the Pirates, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Cueto came out of Saturday's bullpen session feeling good to clear the way for his return to the rotation after a 13-month recovery from Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander topped out at 75 pitches during his final rehab outing with Triple-A Sacramento, which provides a decent idea of his pitch limit for Tuesday.

Cueto (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Cueto is nearly ready to go following last summer's Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander was expected to rejoin the rotation last weekend before he experienced some upper-back soreness, but it now looks as though he could start sometime next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Cueto (elbow) is planning to throw a bullpen session this weekend, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Cueto was on the verge of joining the Giants' rotation, but he felt soreness in his upper back during his final rehab start and in a Tuesday bullpen session, so he will remain on the recovery track for now. Manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Cueto could start during next week's homestand if his bullpen session goes well.

Cueto (elbow) experienced back tightness during Tuesday's bullpen session and is "doubtful" to start against the Dodgers this weekend, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The Giants had been targeting Sunday as Cueto's potential return date, but things will be put on hold until he's re-evaluated in a couple days. The 33-year-old is about 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, so the Giants are likely to remain cautious with only a few weeks left in the regular season.

Cueto (elbow) will make his final rehab appearance Saturday with Triple-A Sacramento, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Cueto made his first start with Sacramento on Monday -- his fifth rehab outing overall -- and threw 60 pitches over 4.1 innings. Manager Bruce Bochy previously said Cueto was tentatively set to return from the 60-day injured list around Sept. 8, and Saturday's outing will put him on track with that timeline.

Cueto (elbow) worked 4.1 innings Monday in his first rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks. He struck out three batters in the 65-pitch outing.

The start was Cueto's fifth overall in the minors after the Giants cleared him to begin the rehab assignment Aug. 4. According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, Cueto said he wasn't satisfied with the results and doesn't feel ready to rejoin the Giants, though he noted that he felt "strong" physically. The 33-year-old, who is just under 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, will presumably push up his pitch count in his next outing at Triple-A before potentially returning from the 60-day injured list in the second week of September.

Manager Bruce Bochy said last week that Cueto (elbow) is tentatively being penciled in to return from the 60-day injured list around Sept. 8, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Cueto reached the final phase of his recovery from Tommy John surgery earlier this month, when he kicked off a minor-league rehab assignment. After two turns with the Giants' rookie-level Arizona League affiliate followed by two starts with High-A San Jose, Cueto is now in line to pitch twice for Triple-A Sacramento before being reinstated. Cueto was roughed up for five runs (four earned) over 4.1 innings in his final outing for San Jose, but reported no concerns with his elbow while bumping up his pitch count to 60. He'll presumably work longer in his upcoming two turns with Sacramento as he looks to prove that he's ready to handle a starter's workload with the big club.

Cueto (elbow) will join Triple-A Sacramento for the first of two rehab starts Monday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

He gave up six runs (five earned) over two rehab starts (seven innings) for High-A San Jose and is ready to move up to the Pacific Coast League. Assuming his two rehab outings with Sacramento go smoothly, he could join the big-league rotation in early September.