First glimpse at Giants' potential Opening Day lineup

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Opening Day is still three weeks away, but manager Bob Melvin offered an early glimpse at what the Giants’ starting lineup could look like when they kick off the regular season at Cincinnati on March 27.

With most of the Giants’ regular position players finally taking the field together for the first time this spring, Melvin got a chance to unveil his potential Opening Day lineup on Thursday in a 7-3 win over the White Sox at Scottsdale Stadium.

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Here’s how the group stacked up:

LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
Willy Adames, SS
Jung Hoo Lee, CF
Matt Chapman, 3B
Heliot Ramos, LF
Patrick Bailey, C
Wilmer Flores, DH
Mike Yastrzemski, RF
Tyler Fitzgerald, 2B

“It’s always nice to be able to roll out a lineup like this, because not often are you able to in Spring Training,” Melvin said. “It’s just kind of mix and matching a little bit and putting guys in spots that we might see come Opening Day.”

The heart of the Giants’ lineup certainly didn’t disappoint, with Lee and Chapman crushing back-to-back home runs off Chicago right-hander Jonathan Cannon in the bottom of the third inning. Lee drove a two-run homer out to the berm in right-center field before Chapman thumped a solo shot -- his second of the game -- into San Francisco’s bullpen in right.

“I think it’s been a good spring all over for everybody, so it’s nice to see everybody kind of contribute,” Chapman said. “With that lineup we ran out there today, I think we’re going to be tough to get through one through nine. I think it’s a lot of really good hitters and guys that are tough outs.”

San Francisco’s projected Nos. 3-4 hitters are both off to a hot start this spring, as Lee is batting .400 (8-for-20) with two homers over eight games, while Chapman is hitting .462 (6-for-13) with a team-high three homers over six games.

“I’ll take it,” Chapman said. “I feel pretty good. It was nice to not have to feel like I had to make a bunch of adjustments this offseason. I just wanted to pick up where I left off last season and just kind of keep fine-tuning how I was in the second half. It’s always nice to feel like you have a good rhythm and stuff in Spring Training, but it always changes once the season starts.”

The Giants also got some production from the bottom third of the lineup, with No. 7 hitter Yastrzemski adding a two-run shot -- his second of the spring -- in the bottom of the sixth to cap the club’s four-homer day.

“Love the run support,” said right-hander Justin Verlander, who struck out four and gave up one run on four hits over four innings in his second Cactus League appearance. “That was fun. I think it’s fun for the fans to see a potential big league lineup out there with these guys. I know analytics don’t really value this, but it’s nice for guys to get out there all together. It’s nice for guys to be in their spot in the lineup and watch the guy before them and get in the pace of the game. I thought it was great.”

Verlander isn’t expected to be on the mound for Opening Day -- that assignment will fall to Logan Webb -- but the Giants hope Thursday’s lineup could give fans a taste of what’s to come in 2025.

“I like it,” Melvin said, smiling. “It just had a good feeling.”

Camp cuts

The Giants made their second round of roster cuts on Thursday, optioning right-hander Trevor McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento and reassigning left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, the club’s No. 2 prospect, to Minor League camp.

McDonald, 24, made his Major League debut on the final day of the 2024 season and showed promise by working three scoreless innings against the Cardinals, but he gave up four runs (three earned) over 3 1/3 innings in two Cactus League appearances this spring. Whisenhunt, also 24, fired three scoreless innings in his two exhibition outings, but he’s likely to join McDonald in the River Cats’ rotation to start the season. Both could be options to pitch out of the Giants’ rotation or bullpen if needs arise later this year.

“They weren’t going to be part of this thing to start, but we’re talking about the next wave of guys,” Melvin said. “Just because you don’t start here doesn’t mean you don’t end up here at some point.”

The latest cuts leave 52 players in big league camp with the Giants.