San Francisco Giants’ quest to find roster stability begins in starting rotation
MIAMI — Since Madison Bumgarner tossed seven innings in a 5-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on April 13, no Giants starter has pitched as many innings in a game.
The 36 consecutive games in which Giants starters have failed to record at least seven innings is the longest streak in baseball and according to Stats, LLC, it’s the longest such streak for the franchise in the last 100 years.
If the Giants are ever going to achieve their goal of finding roster stability, the streak must end soon.
With upcoming series against a pair of last-place clubs, the Miami Marlins and the Baltimore Orioles, there’s no time like the present for a struggling starting staff to make the front office’s job easier.
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, manager Bruce Bochy and others at high levels of the organization have expressed surprise at the difficulties the starting rotation has encountered over the last month. The Giants’ 5.69 ERA in the month of May is the fifth-worst mark in baseball and a significant reason why the club has fallen 10 games under .500.
The Giants have used nine different starting pitchers in May including “opener” Nick Vincent and after Andrew Suárez was optioned following Saturday’s loss to the Diamondbacks, it’s unclear who will take his spot in the rotation on Friday against the Orioles.
The club’s top free agent signing, Derek Holland, has been forced to the bullpen while another Zaidi acquisition, Drew Pomeranz, has failed to finish five innings in each of his last four starts. As the Giants take a more cautious approach with veteran Jeff Samardzija’s innings, only Bumgarner has consistently shown the ability to deliver quality starts this year.
Samardzija, Bumgarner and Pomeranz will draw the enviable assignment of facing the Marlins this week as Miami ranks last among all teams in many key offensive categories. The Marlins’ 36 homers, 102 extra-base hits and .616 team OPS are all the worst marks in the major leagues as Miami only has one regular (first baseman Neil Walker) with an OPS above the .736 National League average.
Six different starters have logged at least seven innings against the Marlins this month including Nationals lefty Patrick Corbin, who surrendered just four hits in a 116-pitch shutout win over Miami on Saturday.
The Giants are motivated for the streak to end but even more focused on achieving stability for the pitching staff.
Relievers Trevor Gott and Travis Bergen are on the injured list, Holland and Pomeranz have been largely ineffective this month and other pitchers who looked poise for big seasons in April like Reyes Moronta and Nick Vincent have struggled with command issues.
After stretching Samardzija out to a season-high 107 pitches in his last outing and allowing Bumgarner to surpass the 100-pitch threshold in each of his last seven starts, the Giants shouldn’t be worried about the stamina of their next two starters.
To stabilize the staff, the Giants feel they need a few quality starts and a couple of pitchers to work deeper into games. Even though the Marlins recently won six in a row, it shouldn’t be as much of a challenge for the rotation in Miami.