Giants shuffle starting rotation after rainout

Right-hander Chris Stratton (0-1, 5.06 ERA) takes the mound Saturday against Dodgers lefty Rich Hill (1-0, 0.00 ERA) in a re-match of last Sunday’s 9-0 Dodgers shutout. 

In his last outing against Hill, Stratton pitched 5-1/3 innings giving up five hits and three runs, and striking out four. But after he was pulled, the Giants bullpen gave up eight hits and six runs in just 2-2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Hill pitched six scoreless innings giving up five hits and striking out five.

In light of Friday’s washout, Giants manager Bruce Bochy made some adjustments to his starting rotation. It was Derek Holland who was originally slated to go up against Dodgers hurler Kenta Maeda in Friday’s rainout, but Holland will instead pitch Monday in the Giants series opener in Arizona against righty Zack Godley (1-0, 1.29 ERA).

Of the adjustment the skipper said:

“Instead of moving everybody back and affecting the whole rotation we just decided to do it with Derek. With ‘Holly,’ he understands, so he’ll go Monday, and the rest of them pretty much stay on a normal rotation with all of them getting an extra day, including Johnny [Cueto].”

Ty Blach (1-1, 5.79 ERA) will go up against Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 2.25 ERA) Sunday in a re-match of Opening Day in which Blach went 5 innings giving up just three hits and shutting out the Dodgers.