ANAHEIM, Calif. — Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon knows that superstar second baseman Robinson Cano can hit.
He also knows that if Cano has no credible threat batting behind him, pitchers will work around him and not give him anything good to hit.
McClendon will mix and match in the cleanup spot, behind No. 3 hitter Cano, depending on who is hot and who the opposing pitcher is that day. Designated hitter/outfielder Corey Hart and third baseman Kyle Seager are two options, but for the first two games of the season, McClendon went with first baseman Justin Smoak, and the decision paid off.
In the Mariners’ 10-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day, Smoak went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a three-run homer. On Tuesday, in Seattle’s 8-3 win over Los Angeles, Smoak went 2-for-4, including a three-run double that came immediately after Cano was walked intentionally by Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson.
“No doubt,” Smoak said when asked if he was expecting the Angels to put Cano on base. “Why wouldn’t you? There’s a reason why they do that, but I like facing C.J. I just wanted to have a good at-bat, and I was able to get the job done.”
In his first two games hitting cleanup behind Cano, Smoak is 4-for-8 with a home run, a double and six RBIs.
Fantasy Update: Smoak is knocking the cover off the ball right now and should be picked up immediately if you need some added pop to your lineup.