Snell to make Giants debut next Monday vs. Nationals

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will make his first start for the San Francisco Giants next Monday against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

Snell will throw one more simulated game on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium to prepare for his season debut, manager Bob Melvin said, per The Associated Press.

The 31-year-old was without a contract for most of the winter until San Francisco gave him a two-year, $62-million deal in late March. While he was hoping to pitch in the team's season-opening series against his former team in San Diego, Snell needed additional time to ramp up because of the late signing.

In his most recent tune-up, which came Friday in extended spring training, Snell struck out 11 in four innings of work against the Giants' Double-A affiliate.

"I feel good. Just get more reps, get better and better, stronger and stronger," Snell said Sunday, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "When we get out there, that will be the real tell of where I'm at and what I need to work on. I'll get better from there."

The Giants have had to run with a bit of a makeshift rotation over the season's first few days due to Snell's absence. Daulton Jefferies, who was called up to start Sunday's game against the Padres, allowed nine runs (five earned) in just two innings of work.

With Snell starting on Monday, the Giants will turn to Jordan Hicks for their home opener versus the Padres on Friday, according to Baggarly. Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison will start the final two games of this week's series in Los Angeles against the rival Dodgers.