McDonald shines in 'big moment, big opportunity' -- so what's next?
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SAN FRANCISCO -- At some point, Trevor McDonald is going to force his way into the Giants' rotation. Or the bullpen. It is bound to happen because of games like Monday’ night’s 3-2 victory against the Padres, which ended San Francisco’s six-game losing streak and showed the kind of promise he has on the mound.
McDonald pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in his season debut, holding the Padres to a Jackson Merrill solo homer and single. The 25-year-old did not walk a batter and struck out eight.
His seven innings tied a career high as a starter, which McDonald previously accomplished on Sept. 26, 2025, against Colorado.
If the rotation had an opening, McDonald would be a shoo-in for a spot. But the Giants have five starters, and manager Tony Vitello would not say when McDonald might get the ball next.
“Regardless of what the immediate future holds, I think in the distant future, the long term, obviously he’s going to get the ball in his hand again in a vital situation,” Vitello said.
McDonald was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday to make the spot start against the Padres. A onetime opening in the rotation was created by Wednesday’s rainout in Philadelphia and Thursday’s subsequent doubleheader, in which starters Logan Webb and Adrian Houser had to work on the same day.
Webb will start Tuesday night, with Houser following him in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.
That seemingly leaves McDonald, the Giants' No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, out of the mix, but Vitello cryptically noted that he told his pitchers in Spring Training that he trusts them in any situation. Without mentioning any pitcher by name, Vitello said, “If you’re not a starter, you could be that guy who closes for us."
There is still a chance the Giants send McDonald back to the Minors despite Monday's strong outing, because he threw 81 pitches in his second Major League win and will be down for several days, leaving him unavailable for relief.
Regardless of McDonald’s immediate future, Vitello paid him a great compliment after McDonald threw 60 strikes among his 81 pitches and kept the Padres' hitters in check.
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"I think he sent a message that I hope rang true for all of his buddies on the pitching staff,” Vitello said. “Attacking is the way to go, and when we’ve attacked this year as a pitching staff we’ve almost always had success, at the very least, on the defensive end.”
McDonald said he appreciated the opportunity, and knew that he was asked to be a stopper amid a six-game losing streak.
"Big moment, big opportunity,” he said. “There was some adrenaline to where I could go out there and give us a spark and do the best I can to get back on that winning streak.”
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The offense did not bust out of its malaise, but it did enough to back McDonald after he allowed Merrill’s homer in the first inning. Casey Schmitt answered with a homer of his own in the bottom half to tie the game, the Giants’ first since the one Schmitt hit eight days earlier. San Francisco went homerless in 223 plate appearances between Schmitt long balls.
Rafael Devers had two RBIs on a single and sacrifice fly that each scored Luis Arraez. Arraez had reached on identical fly-ball doubles into the left-field corner in the first and sixth innings against Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez.
Vitello revealed that Arraez addressed the team following the 0-6 trip, which made Monday’s contribution at the plate more meaningful because he backed his words with deeds.