SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ greatest and one of many final remaining questions of the spring bought a solution Monday afternoon: Landen Roupp will spherical out their beginning rotation.
Roupp beat out fellow younger right-hander Hayden Birdsong, who will begin the 12 months within the bullpen, and left-hander Kyle Harrison, who was behind the eight ball from the get-go attributable to sickness and was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento final week.
Supervisor Bob Melvin put an finish to the three-man competitors earlier than the Giants’ first of two exhibition video games towards the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park.
“Both of (Roupp and Birdsong) had great springs, so really we could go either way with it,” Melvin mentioned. “Both of them are kind of made to be starters.”
Roupp, 26, posted a 3.75 ERA in 4 Cactus League appearances whereas placing out 14 batters and issued just one stroll in 12 innings. Birdsong, 23, additionally appeared in 4 video games with a team-best 0.75 ERA, 18 strikeouts and no walks over 12 innings.
Of their closing audition on Sunday towards the Triple-A River Cats, which didn’t depend towards their spring coaching stats, Roupp bought the beginning nod and tossed 5 shutout innings, permitting three walks and one hit whereas racking up eight strikeouts.
Birdsong took over within the sixth inning however was derailed by a cracked nail on his proper center finger. Whereas he downplayed the problem at his locker a day later after affixing a short lived nail, it “kind of affected stretching him out yesterday,” Melvin mentioned.
Birdsong was solely capable of file one out whereas surrendering three runs in Sacramento. In the end, Melvin mentioned, “Roupp pitched a little bit more toward the end.”
Harrison, 23, was despatched to Triple-A to proceed to get stretched out, and by Melvin’s clarification, it might sound pure for Birdsong to have adopted in his footsteps. Nonetheless, the supervisor mentioned the choice to hold Birdsong within the bullpen was twofold.
“We want to start with what we think is our best group,” Melvin mentioned. And, he added, “We’re trying to reward guys who had good springs and deserve to be on the team.”
That got here at the price of a roster spot for Sean Hjelle, who was optioned to Sacramento after seemingly carving out a everlasting position for himself within the major-league bullpen. Hjelle, 27, appeared in 58 video games final season with a 3.90 ERA however had a 6.75 ERA in seven appearances this spring.
“Here’s a guy that was on our team the whole year last year, so that stings a little bit,” Melvin mentioned. “But the message is we’re trying to keep as many guys as we possibly can here and sometimes it comes down to results in spring. Some other guys that are here right now had better springs.”
Because it stands, the Giants’ roster — or at the very least the 13 pitchers they are going to take with them to Cincinnati — is usually set.
The beginning rotation will include Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Roupp. The bullpen might be made up of Ryan Walker, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Erik Miller, Spencer Bivens, Randy Rodriguez, Lou Trivino and Birdsong.
Melvin was impressed with how Roupp dealt with himself down the stretch final season, posting a 0.89 ERA over 30⅓ innings between the rotation and bullpen between being referred to as up for the ultimate time on Aug. 9 and his closing outing of the season, when he was tagged for six runs.
Roupp principally relied on two pitches final 12 months — his sinker and curveball — however added a cutter and a four-seam fastball this spring that give him a full starter’s arsenal.
“Pretty stoic,” Melvin mentioned of Roupp’s response. “I think I saw a little bit of a hint of a smile. But that’s how he is.”
Notable
Jerar Encarnacion, who fractured his left ring finger within the outfield final week, was set to bear surgical procedure Monday in Los Angeles, however the operation was postponed attributable to journey difficulties, the crew introduced. … Harrison, who was scratched from his scheduled begin Sunday, was set to get his work in Monday in an intrasquad recreation in Sacramento, Melvin mentioned.
Initially Revealed: March 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM PDT
