Andrew Suarez

While appearing on Murph & Mac Monday morning, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly suggested that the Giants could cycle their young pitchers through the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation next season.

Although Ty Blach holds an edge over Tyler Beede and Andrew Suarez for the fifth spot in next year’s rotation, it’s not out of the question that either of those young starters can claim a starting role with a strong Spring Training.

While Matt Moore spent much of the season at the bottom of the National League leaderboard in earned run average and endured a near-five month span without earning a victory against a team with a winning record, Moore felt the Giants showed faith in the pitcher he used to be, and the pitcher he still thinks he can become by assuring him he would be on their roster come Spring Training.

Who are the Giants’ top homegrown players at each position? Who are the prospects fans should keep an eye on down the road?

For a club with a 57-92 record, there are no shortage of question marks, and for a franchise that’s been built on the foundation of pitching, a potential rebound in 2018 could include a few new faces in the starting rotation, and of course, a revamped bullpen.

The franchise’s top two picks in 2015, first round selection Chris Shaw, and second round selection Andrew Suarez, are both enjoying successful campaigns with AAA Sacramento after receiving early-season call-ups from AA Richmond.

If the Giants decide to call up left fielder Chris Shaw this September, it’s easy to envision a scenario in which Bochy offers the exact same compliments to Shaw that he did to Austin Slater.

Even though he’s spent just over two years in the Giants’ Minor League system, Suarez has clearly made a strong case for a September call-up, and his Saturday evening performance was no exception.

Though Bruce Bochy didn’t want to discuss many specifics, the Giants’ manager indicated that San Francisco may be close to auditioning a new pitcher in the starting rotation.

The San Francisco Giants’ top pitching prospect is inching closer to the Major League level, and after a seven-inning effort in his last outing, there was reason to believe Tyler Beede would receive a shot with the big league club in the coming weeks.