Bochy maximizing expanded Giants’ bullpen, team preparing to stretch starting rotation

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LOS ANGELES — With the Giants clinging to a narrow 1-0 lead in the late innings on Saturday against the Dodgers, one of Bruce Bochy’s pitchers expressed a desire to take the mound.

Bochy had to remind Johnny Cueto that he’s not yet a member of the active roster.

Cueto will make his 2019 season debut with a Tuesday start against the Pirates at Oracle Park, but the veteran right-hander was so engrossed in Saturday’s game that he wanted a chance to face the Dodgers.

“I think sitting here watching these games, he was eager to get out and pitch here,” Bochy said. “With how intense these games are, you can tell he really misses it and he wished he could have pitched here.”

How Cueto will fare in his return from Tommy John surgery is anyone’s guess, but it’s not as if Bochy knew how his inexperienced relievers would handle the bright lights at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

Bochy used seven different pitchers including five rookies and they combined to stun the Dodgers in a 1-0 shutout win.

With set-up man Tony Watson (bruised left wrist) and closer Will Smith (back tightness) unavailable on Saturday, Bochy cycled through a slew of untested relievers and they combined to shut down the National League’s top offense.

None of the pitchers who appeared for the Giants on Saturday began the season on the 25-man roster, but they allowed just four hits in the Dodgers’ first home shutout loss since May 9.

The Giants’ clubhouse looks more like a convention center these days, but a deep bullpen that now features 13 relievers is working in Bochy’s favor.

“I think you look at the number of arms, it allows you to do some things,” Bochy said. “September baseball allows you to get matchups.”

The Giants welcomed their newest arrival to the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta joined the club a day ahead of schedule. Bochy said the Giants planned for Peralta –who was claimed on waiver from the Reds– to meet the team at home on Monday, but they changed their plans in case Sunday’s game went into extra innings and the team needed a fresh arm.

Bochy said he doesn’t know if Smith or Watson will be ready to pitch on Sunday, but he’ll have four lefties and seven righties at his disposal.

“We’re actually sitting pretty good as far as guys in the bullpen,” Bochy said. “Even though we’ve had injuries, we have lefties, righties, we can make up for that with matchups.”

The Giants’ bullpen is crowded, but their starting rotation will be over capacity when Cueto is added to the roster Tuesday. Bochy said the team will slide rookie Logan Webb back a day and have him face the Pirates Wednesday and at least temporarily, the club will use a six-man rotation.

Bochy said the Giants may consider skipping one of their younger starters later in the week, but for now, the club is stretching its rotation and bullpen to accommodate the largest group of pitchers Bochy has ever managed.