SAN FRANCISCO -- Rather than ask Bruce Bochy who will be summoned from Triple-A Sacramento to start Wednesday against Arizona, a clever reporter phrased his question to the Giants manager to try to elicit a specific response: Which rookie will be summoned from Triple-A Sacramento to receive the pitching assignment, Tyler Beede or Andrew Suarez?
Bochy paused briefly before responding.
"Either or," he said. "How's that?"
Until Bochy announces a decision, this mini-issue could prompt a spirited debate, at least among Giants fans. Except for the obvious difference that Beede throws right-handed and Suarez is a lefty, there's little separating the two, at least on the surface.
Beede entered the organization with a higher pedigree as its No. 1 selection in the 2014 Draft (14th overall). But Suarez impressed many, including Bochy, during his rise through the Minor League system. Both performed impressively in their 2018 debuts. Beede threw a one-hitter for five innings, Suarez a one-hitter through four.

MLB Pipeline ranked Beede No. 4 among the organization's top 30 Minor League prospects. Suarez is 10th.
Samardzija staying busy
Right-hander Jeff Samardzija (strained right pectoral) remained on course to rejoin the starting rotation. He's scheduled to pitch in an extended spring game in Arizona on Monday, along with left-hander Will Smith.
Samardzija continued his recovery by throwing the equivalent of two innings off an indoor mound Friday. Though he'd prefer to resume pitching as soon as possible, he insisted he won't jeopardize his physical recovery by rushing his rehabilitation.
"We want to be malleable with the schedule," Samardzija said.
• After Friday's rainout, Bochy wanted to rearrange the starting rotation while affecting a minimum number of pitchers, explaining why he limited the shuffling to moving Derek Holland's next turn from Friday to Monday.
• Left fielder Hunter Pence was back in the lineup Saturday, despite a mild right thumb injury. Bochy explained the ailment interfered more with Pence's throwing than his hitting.
• Bochy affirmed that right-hander Johnny Cueto's right ankle, which he tweaked while pitching Wednesday, is fine.