The Giants have been filling in a spot in their rotation with an all-hands bullpen game once every five days for weeks, but that won’t go on much longer.
Jakob Junis, the club’s leader in ERA, is nearing a return from his left hamstring. Junis hit the injured list on June 11 after making nine appearances with San Francisco. He made two rehab appearances in Arizona this recently, allowing one earned run on five hits in four innings pitched.
“We don’t have anything in stone in terms of when he’s going to make a rehab start,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Friday. “And we also are leaving open the possibility that he pitches for us in the next few days.”
A day before, Junis said the plan was to make a rehab start with Sacramento on Saturday. But things can change.
If Junis does return before the All-Star break, he could do so as a multi-inning reliever. He’s likely not quite built up for a starter’s workload just yet.
San Francisco’s pen isn’t in a perfect state at the moment, as Wednesday’s bullpen game preceded a five-inning start from Carlos Rodón. Camilo Doval pitched two innings on Thursday and also entered a day prior, so he’s likely unavailable on Friday.
As a whole, the Giants’ bullpen ranks 21st in MLB with a 4.16 ERA. SF relievers led baseball with a 2.99 mark in 2021.
The Giants had six relievers pitch at least 50 innings with a sub-3.00 ERA last year. Jake McGee, who led SF in saves, was released this week as he couldn’t replicate his excellent performance.
Junis could help relieve some pressure on the bullpen in the short-term, but he’s still more valuable as a starter. In seven starts, Junis has struck out 30 and walked nine in 38 innings while relying heavily on his slider.
- José Álvarez, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list this year, said he received a cortisone shot in his left elbow. For now, he hopes the pain dissipates after a couple weeks and he can resume throwing without requiring surgery. The reliever said there’s not much concern over his ligaments, rather a potential bone spur similar to what he dealt with in 2014.
- Evan Longoria, like Junis, could also return this weekend before the All-Star break. He hit a double in his first rehab appearance on Thursday and is set to play four innings of third base Friday, Kapler said. Longoria is eligible to return from the 10-day IL on Saturday.
- Wilmer Flores isn’t in the starting lineup as he deals with some calf discomfort. Flores, one of San Francisco’s most productive hitters this year, tested out his leg in pregame warmups, including taking fungo grounders at third. His availability depends on how he’s feeling after the workout.
- Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff has reverse splits, so the Giants didn’t load up their lineup with as many lefties as they normally would. Austin Slater is starting; he’s had much more success against right-handed pitchers this year than in past seasons. Slater’s on-base percentage of .364 against righties is only slightly behind that with a platoon advantage (.400). The outfielder has always had success in matchups, but he’s blossoming into more well-rounded player in 2022.
