SAN FRANCISCO -- In ideal circumstances, the Giants and Dodgers would both be at maximum strength for this weekend’s three-game set, one that will determine who stands atop the National League West. In ideal circumstances, San Francisco would send out its best three starters, as would Los Angeles.
Alas, for the Giants, their circumstances are not ideal. With Anthony DeSclafani making his second start back from injury and two starters on the injured list, manager Gabe Kapler and company face the challenge of not only eating up innings, but having those innings be effective ones.
“I don’t anticipate a rotation, per se,” Kapler said after Thursday’s win over the Brewers. “I think we’re going to look at each game and see what the best way to win those are.”
DeSclafani got the ball on Friday, and while he’s been part of the regular rotation, there’s the question of how long he’ll last.
The right-hander started on Sunday after missing more than a week due to right ankle inflammation, but only lasted three-plus innings (he faced five batters in the fourth inning but didn’t retire any). The last time DeSclafani pitched five innings was Aug. 13. The last time he pitched at least six was July 22.
“The last couple of days have been some of the more optimistic days that we’ve seen from [DeSclafani] and in the last few weeks,” Kapler said of DeSclafani’s ankle. “I think that speaks to his health, but I also think it speaks to his mental state. He’s pretty confident right now.”
After DeSclafani’s turn on Friday, the answer to how San Francisco addresses its starting needs becomes even more peculiar.
Alex Wood is on the IL after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnny Cueto was placed on the IL after his start on Tuesday with a right elbow strain. Neither Kevin Gausman nor Logan Webb will be available because they pitched on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
So, how will the Giants eat up innings? In all likelihood, bullpen games.
The Giants utilized that strategy as recently as Monday. José Álvarez played opener before being followed by a platoon of relievers. Jarlín García ended up taking the majority of the innings, pitching a season-high 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. And while bullpen games can be taxing on the relief corps, the Giants have plenty of arms who can provide length.
Álvarez and García have frequently pitched multiple innings. Sammy Long has stepped into a swingman role for San Francisco and hasn’t pitched since last Sunday, meaning he could be a candidate to go three or four innings. Caleb Baragar and Zack Littell have pitched multiple innings as well.
Of all San Francisco’s current options, the one who could provide the most length is José Quintana, whom the Giants claimed off waivers from the Angels on Monday. Quintana was demoted to the Halos' bullpen after returning from injury but has a long track record of providing innings. From 2013 to '19, Quintana averaged 32 starts and 193 innings per year. Quintana was stellar in his Giants debut on Tuesday, pitching 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with six strikeouts, looking as crisp as he had all season.
“We’ve got enough relievers who can get us seven or eight outs and will be able to work as a team of pitchers rather than one or two,” Kapler said.
Robinson in attendance
Drew Robinson, who survived a suicide attempt in April of 2020, was with the Giants on Friday as part of the team’s effort to bring attention to mental health awareness.
Prior to the game, many players wore shirts that said “end the stigma” on the front and “you are not alone” on the back. Kapler also spoke at length about the importance of the topic.
“Part of the reason we’re wearing these ‘end the stigma’ T-shirts is to draw some attention to the topic, talk about what baseball players go through, but as importantly, what everyone goes through from time to time, which is getting beat down mentally,” Kapler said. “The more we talk about it, the more we draw awareness to it, the more people feel less alone.”
Kapler added: “There are players in this clubhouse and on this team who have struggled with mental health issues. It's not unique to our team and it’s not unique in the industry at all. In every group of 30, 40, 50 people, you’re going to have people that are dealing with mental health issues. Same way there are people that are going to be dealing with physical injuries and physical limitations, people are dealing with mental limitations and mental injuries as well.”
National Suicide Prevention Week begins on Sunday and ends on Sept. 11.