Giants pitchers Mark Melancon and Jeff Samardzija have been added as alternates to the Team USA roster for this year’s World Baseball Classic. If they are needed, they will join teammates Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. As alternates, neither pitcher is expected to participate for Team USA until the semifinal round, should Team USA make it. Both pitchers have been seen in Spring Training this year, unlike fellow pitcher Johnny Cueto, who just recently joined the team in Arizona after handling family business. Cueto’s participation for the Dominican Republic still seems to be up in the air, but it is a possibility.

Samardzija is 0-1 in Spring Training, with a 7.36 ERA over 3.2 innings. Melancon has been a star this spring, with no runs given up over 4 innings. Cueto has not pitched as of yet, but is expected to start tomorrow’s (3/11/17) Cactus League game