Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks made his eighth start of the season on Friday, posting six innings of three-run ball against the Twins. He struck out six while issuing zero walks in the quality effort, but even after that outing his season ERA sits at a lackluster 5.82. The right-hander’s difficult start to the season has led to questions about whether or not he’ll continue to get starts in the San Francisco rotation, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that manager Bob Melvin stood by the 28-year-old in his comments after Friday’s game.
While Melvin acknowledged that the possibility of a return to the bullpen is “always potentially there” due the hard-throwing righty’s years of success in a relief role with the Cardinals, he added that the Giants are “not talking about that at this point.” The presence of Hicks in the rotation alongside veterans Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, and Robbie Ray leaves just one spot in the club’s starting mix for a young arm. That spot is currently being occupied by Landen Roupp, who has a lackluster 4.89 ERA in seven starts this year but strong peripherals, including a 3.95 FIP.
The inclusion of Roupp and Hicks in the rotation leaves right-hander Hayden Birdsong and southpaw Kyle Harrison both limited to bullpen roles for the time being. Both have taken to their new jobs quite well, with Birdsong posting a 1.47 ERA in 18 1/3 innings of work out of the bullpen this season while Harrison has five strikeouts in three hitless innings since being called up to the majors last week. Both hurlers clearly have the arsenals necessary to start, but it’s unclear when an opportunity for either player will arise barring injuries within the current starting five.
Moving on to the lineup, the club has been without slugger Jerar Encarnacion all season after suffering a fracture in his hand just before Opening Day and undergoing surgery shortly thereafter. Encarnacion slashed .248/.277/.425 in 35 games for the Giants last year and a strong camp with San Francisco earned him the opportunity to serve as their everyday DH this year before his injury changed things. Since then, veteran Wilmer Flores has taken over as the club’s primary DH and has bounced back from a lackluster 2024 season to hit a solid .245/.295/.410 in 149 trips to the plate so far this year.
Slusser writes that the Giants like the idea of keeping Flores in that primary DH role in order to keep the 33-year-old healthier throughout the season. That might seem as though it leaves Encarnacion, primarily an outfielder and DH, without a spot in the lineup as he gears up for a rehab assignment, but Slusser notes that Melvin told reporters Encarnacion will be seeing time at first base during his rehab assignment. LaMonte Wade Jr. has hit a paltry .150./246/.252 in 123 plate appearances as the club’s primary first baseman this year, and Encarnacion could potentially take over the position for the time being, or at least provide a possible offensive upgrade over David Villar as a platoon partner for Wade. Whoever gets reps at first base will be feeling pressure from the minor leagues given the presence of consensus top-25 prospect Bryce Eldridge in the minors, but the 20-year-old has just 15 games at the Double-A level this year and is unlikely to be considered for a promotion to the majors until later in the year if he’s even on the radar to debut this year at all.
How about the Giants give Villar some more runway at 1st base? He is hitting a lot better than Wade, albeit in very limited playing time. Couldn’t be worse than what Wade is doing.
Wade has had incredible bad luck. His BABIP is 60 points less than his BA since he came to SF up until this season. His BB%, whiff %, and squared-up% are in the 70 to 83 percentile. His chase rate is the best in MLB. I think they don’t want to sit Wade since that bad luck can’t last forever.
Good work Jean. I’ve been wondering about the luck numbers. He just doesn’t look like he is flailing. He can pick it out of the dirt as well. I’m thinking Chapman and Adames like him there.
I agree Jean and foppert. Wade has had numerous hard hit balls find gloves so far. Seems like the opposing defense always make great plays on Wade. I say stick with him for a bit longer. And for the most part his defense has been pretty good. He’s saved numerous infield throws from becoming errors over the last couple seasons.
Seems like Hicks ran out of steam last year after a great start while also extending from a reliever. Seems smart if he’s building things up a little slower this year.
Hicks signed with Giants with the intention of being a starter they will give him the necessary innings like last year once they see the burn out – they will shuffle him back to relief.
As for Roupp, he is against the wall and he knows it Birdsong is right there and ready. Harrison still has to collect his time to prove he is ready for MLB likely they will have him takeover for birdsong after all-star break
I think Roupp relies too much on his curveball. It’s a great pitch for him but opposing teams are now expecting it making him succeptable to home runs at bad times. I honestly think Birdsong should be in the rotation. Roupp has also been unlucky at times though and hasn’t really pitched badly. Tough call. Hicks to the bullpen too.
Hopefully someone from the team let Encarnacion know he might play some 1b and not just DH. We see wee that can go.
Don’t worry he’s not related to Devers.
Should be happy to get playing time any way possible. Just hope he can take up where he left off. SFG needs an offensive spark from someone, preferably soon.
Article said he’s getting time at first base inAAA. He played there last night
Stability and consistent lineup is what they said, stability and consistent lineup is what they are doing. Fair enough.
Lackluster.
Filibuster.
I guess Wilma is not killing it anymore.
0.1 WAR and a .295 OBP. He offers nothing else.
Except being one of the games best performers with runners in scoring position. That’s something.
#4 in MLB RBIs currently, but ya nothing else.
Wilmer is very clutch though and in a way he’s carried the offense from the start of the year. He’s why the Giants have gotten off to a good start. He is painful to watch running to first base though.
Trade for Devers to play first
Yeah. Nah.
Wilmer’s bat is too valuable to the Giants to take out of the lineup as his 7 Home Runs put among the NL leaders and his 33 RBI’s trail only Pete Alonso and Teoscar Hernandez.
Maybe Wade would benefit from a change of scenery or maybe this is just who he is. If i were Craig Breslow i would at least inquire about his availability
The Giants need to send Hicks and Roupp to the bullpen and replace them with Birdsong and Harrison.
Could not disagree more, at least on Roupp, and I’d wait on Hicks to see if he can get back to where he was in the first half of last season. Roupp’s stuff, which is really good, plays better as a starter. This year, his rookie season as a starter, is arguably better than Birdsong’s last season. Harrison clearly lost his way, and is working his way back. but the pen might be the best place for him to do that. He’ll be back starting soon enough. Plus I trust the Giant’s staff to know who is best where.
We shall see… I hope they don’t wait too long trotting those two out there every fifth day!
Harrison is reportedly throwing 97 right now. He’s going to get a shot. Maybe over Birdsong.
However right now, Harrison would replace Roupp, Hicks will be given a chance to finish the season as a starter.
Before the season I was more than ready to bail on Yaz and Flores. But I was wrong. They have more than carried their weight. The others have not. Adames has been hitting much better, Chapman has been an ok cleanup man. Lee has been a good third hitter. But the bottom half of the lineup has been abysmal. Ramos hitting helps lengthen for sure. But 7-9 haven’t showed up. I look for Wade to be gone soon.
For the Pitching, The closer has been terrible. Other than that the pen has worked out. The starters have been ok, But with a low scoring up and down offense it’s hit or miss, But the team still has a winning record. Very very happy for the early season results in the standings considering we all thought .500 would be stretch.
Yaz is a consistently good to very good player, and plays right amazingly at home.
What closer? Walker has had some bad luck, his fip is still 2.44, but doval has looked awesome this year(walker has 7, doval has 5 saves)
Walker blew another save today. I think that’s 4 blown saves now. It’s frustrating because he’s got good stuff. His location hasn’t been sharp at all.
I stand corrected. Guess he’s only blown 2 saves.
Statistically, it is only 2 BS, but he also gave up a 5-3 lead to the Cubs in the bottom of the 9th, and had to be pulled for Miller. That’s the game where the Giants scored 9 in the 11th, so he dodged getting a BS.
He also came into a game against the Brewers with a 4-0 lead. He only managed 1 out while allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. He had to be pulled for Doval who did get the save. So it seems like 4 since he was saved a couple times by team wins. Had they lost those games it would be 4.
Thanks Jean. I knew it felt like 4 blown. Lol
Media overlooking the obvious; 2025 Verlander has a negative WAR, as he did last year. His ERA is better than 2024, though his W/9 and K/9 are worse. Oracle is helping, but not a ton. Last season he started 17 and the year prior it was 11. Oh, and he is winless, one quarter into the season.
Verlander is washed, basically. At some point the Giants could consider making the hard decision (or maybe he suffers an injury) and Birdsong is in.
He hasn’t looked great this year, but to be fair, the team has lost far more of his starts than he has on his own.