SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ rotation took a hit when the team optioned Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento following the worst start of his career. On Friday, that unit took another blow.
San Francisco announced that right-hander Landen Roupp was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 23) with right elbow inflammation, leaving the team with even more questions following Birdsong’s demotion.
Right-handed reliever Tristan Beck was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move.
Roupp, 26, had emerged as the No. 3 starter in the Giants’ rotation behind All-Stars Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Over 20 starts, Roupp posted a 3.11 ERA over 101 1/3 innings with 95 strikeouts. It’s worth noting Roupp was only six innings away from matching the 107 1/3 innings he threw in the minors in 2022, the most frames he’s totaled in a season since being drafted.
Prior to Roupp landing on the injured list, the Giants had yet to announce who would take Birdsong’s spot in the starting rotation. Now, the team will need to figure out how to fill not one, but two spots in its rotation. With the July 31 trade deadline looming, starting pitching has quickly become the Giants’ top priority if they want to contend this season.
The Giants lost rotation depth last month when they traded left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Jordan Hicks (as well as two prospects) to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three-time Rafael Devers, who will make his second career appearance at first base on Friday against the New York Mets. Devers provided San Francisco with a much-needed impact bat, one who is capable of carrying an offense when he’s hot, but Birdsong’s demotion and Roupp’s injury highlight the Giants’ lack of immediate rotation options.
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