SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants’ starting pitching depth continued to dwindle Wednesday after veteran Adrian Houser was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.
Right-hander Braxton Roxby was selected from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Houser, who departed the Giants’ 3-1 win over the Reds on Tuesday in the top of the second inning after experiencing tightness in his forearm.
Houser underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday that revealed the strain, which seems likely to jeopardize the rest of his 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old right-hander said he dealt with a similar injury in 2022, when he missed two months with a right flexor strain. His latest setback was particularly ill-timed, as he had pitched to a 1.25 ERA over his last 10 outings for San Francisco.
The Giants have been hit by a cascade of arm injuries this year, with right-handers Hayden Birdsong and Trevor McDonald both succumbing to season-ending Tommy John surgery. Carson Whisenhunt, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Roxby, is expected to join the list after he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow on Tuesday.
Roxby, who was acquired from the Reds in exchange for Taylor Rogers in January 2025, had a 4.11 ERA over 36 relief appearances for Triple-A Sacramento this season. The 27-year-old will make his Major League debut as soon as he gets in a game for the Giants.
“We had him in Spring Training a bunch,” manager Tony Vitello said. “He was throwing the ball well. The big thing for us is he can provide length if we need it. I like the way he attacks with his fastball. He’s a good athlete, too.”
Worth noting
• Jung Hoo Lee was scratched from the Giants’ lineup on Wednesday due to a right elbow bruise that he suffered after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday night. Grant McCray started in right field in place of Lee, who is batting .289 with a .748 OPS over 121 games this year.
• First baseman Bryce Eldridge is expected to rejoin the Giants on Thursday after missing three games while on the bereavement list. Eldridge took a brief leave of absence from the team to attend his grandfather’s funeral in his native Virginia this week.