Giants' Landen Roupp: In tight battle for starting role
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Roupp remains neck-and-neck with Hayden Birdsong for the fifth-starter role, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
With Kyle Harrison having been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, Birdsong and Roupp are now the final candidates for the last starting spot. The 26-year-old has recorded a 3.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB over 12 Cactus League innings this spring, and he was considered the frontrunner coming into camp. The right-hander made 23 appearances (four starts) for the Giants in the 2024 campaign, during which he logged a 3.58 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 47:26 K:BB over 50.1 frames. The Giants are expected to get a look at both candidates during Sunday's tune-up game against Triple-A Sacramento, which may help decide the competition. Roupp will likely operate out of the bullpen if he doesn't earn the fifth-starter spot.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Still in mix for fifth-starter role
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Birdsong remains neck-and-neck with Landen Roupp for the fifth-starter role, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Birdsong and Roupp are the final candidates for the fifth-starter spot after the Giants optioned Kyle Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento. Birdsong has made four appearances during Cactus League play, recording a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 frames. The 23-year-old made 16 starts for San Francisco during the 2024 campaign, registering a 4.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB over 72 innings. Additionally, Birdsong threw more innings than Roupp (50.1 innings) last season, starting in 16 outings compared to Roupp's four. The Giants will likely take a look at both candidates during Sunday's tune-up game against Triple-A Sacramento, which may help decide who wins the final starting spot.
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Giants' Kyle Harrison: Loses out on rotation spot
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The Giants optioned Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Harrison was among the players vying for the final spot in the big-league rotation, but he didn't do much in the Cactus League to help his case, allowing eight earned runs in just 6.2 innings. He'll be joined in Sacramento's rotation by Keaton Winn, leaving Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp as the remaining options for San Francisco.
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Giants' Keaton Winn: Optioned to Sacramento
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The Giants optioned Winn to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Winn pitched well in the Cactus League, giving up three runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts in five innings, but not well enough to crack the Giants' Opening Day staff. Kyle Harrison will head down to Sacramento alongside Winn, meaning Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp are the remaining candidates for the fifth spot in San Francisco's rotation.
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Giants' Jerar Encarnacion: Has fractured hand
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Encarnacion was diagnosed with a fractured left hand Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Encarnacion was originally diagnosed with a jammed finger after making a diving play in Friday's Cactus League game. However, X-rays have since revealed that the 27-year-old suffered a much more significant injury and will presumably need to miss an extended period of time. He had been expected to serve as the Giants' primary DH this season, though that title may now be passed onto Wilmer Flores until Encarnacion recovers.
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Giants' Jerar Encarnacion: Scheduled for X-rays
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Encarnacion jammed his left ring finger while making a diving play during Friday's spring game against the Guardians and is slated to have X-rays, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Manager Bob Melvin said after the game that Encarnacion will receive X-rays on his hand/finger, which will help determine how much time the 27-year-old will miss. If he ends up having to sit out the start of the regular season, Wilmer Flores would be the leading candidate to receive more DH opportunities.
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Giants' Jerar Encarnacion: Exits with injury
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Encarnacion was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against Cleveland due to an apparent hand injury, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Encarnacion injured his hand while diving for a ball in the outfield. The severity of his injury isn't immediately clear, but the Giants should offer some more information once they're able to take a closer look at him.
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Giants' Wade Meckler: Sent to minors
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The Giants optioned Meckler to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Meckler comes up short in his bid to win a reserve outfielder job. The 24-year-old will play regularly at Sacramento while waiting for another opportunity in the majors.
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Giants' Tristan Beck: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Beck to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Beck was competing for a spot in the Giants' bullpen. He's mostly been used as a starter in the minors and could stay stretched out while at Sacramento.
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Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: Aiming to return Sunday
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Lee (back) will resume baseball activities Saturday and hopes to play in Sunday's exhibition game versus the Athletics, John Shea of The San Francisco Standard reports.
Lee hasn't played in more than a week due to a sore back but remains optimistic he'll be ready for Opening Day. It's not a given though, as the outfielder noted he will not rush things just to be available March 27. If Lee isn't ready for the start of the regular season, Grant McCray and Luis Matos are expected to handle center field duties.
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Giants' Joel Peguero: In mix for relief spot
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Peguero is a candidate to join the Giants' bullpen during the 2025 campaign, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Peguero, a non-roster invitee to spring training, has made eight appearances in Cactus League play, allowing one walk with eight strikeouts across 6.2 scoreless innings. The right-hander's high-octane stuff has been on display thus far, and he has topped out at 102 MPH this spring. The 27-year-old has yet to make his major-league debut, though his impressive velocity has made him a candidate for a call-up. "We're certainly not ruling him out," manager Bob Melvin said. "It's a credit to him for not only opening some eyes but continuing to do it." Peguero registered a 3.14 ERA and 56:17 K:BB over 51.2 innings with the Tigers' Double-A affiliate in Erie last season, and he will likely start the 2025 campaign with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.
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Giants' LaMonte Wade: Likely to bat leadoff vs. righties
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Wade is expected to begin the regular season batting leadoff against right-handed pitchers, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
While Wade doesn't possess the speed of a prototypical leadoff batter, his ability to draw walks has made him a top candidate for the role. The 31-year-old's .219 batting average during spring training is unimpressive, though he has drawn 10 walks, resulting in a .422 on-base percentage. "He's got that kind of eye," manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday. "It's really unique in the game. We're seeing it again this spring. We feel pretty good about him in the leadoff spot." Wade has primarily been utilized at first base but made five starts in the outfield last season. If he bats leadoff against right-handed pitchers, Jung Hoo Lee will likely slide into the three-hole.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Remains on track for platoon role
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Matos is expected to make the Opening Day roster and form a platoon with Mike Yastrzemski in right field, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Matos has been impressive during Cactus League play, hitting .358 with two home runs, 11 RBI and two steals across 53 at-bats. The 23-year-old recorded a .213/.237/.347 slash line over 45 regular-season games in the 2024 campaign, and he struggled to stay settled at the plate, finishing with a 40.1 percent chase rate. However, Matos could be in line for an increased role in 2025 after bouncing between the big leagues and Triple-A Sacramento last season. "He is getting better pitches to hit, and that's always going to be, for him, the most important thing," manager Bob Melvin said. "Not chasing too much. ...We've seen him get a little bit deeper in counts. I think that is a progression for him."
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Giants' Enny Romero: Not with team
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Romero is away from the Giants due to personal reasons, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Romero was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but he hasn't made an appearance since March 9. The 34-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the 2018 campaign, during which he posted a 12.60 ERA, 2.90 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across 10 innings with three different teams. Romero is competing for a spot in the bullpen, though he appears to be a long shot to make the Giants' Opening Day roster.
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Giants' Grant McCray: Could start season in center field
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The Giants will likely turn to McCray if Jung Hoo Lee (back) begins the season on the injured list, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The club is expected to work Lee back into the lineup before Opening Day, but McCray could step into center field if Lee misses time in the regular season. McCray is hitting .275 with one home run, four RBI and a team-best four steals in 22 Cactus League games. The 24-year-old has been focusing on making consistent contact this spring after striking out in 56 of his 130 plate appearances last season. "I can't say I expected him to be in the big leagues last year, and then he had a stretch where he was really good," manager Bob Melvin said earlier this spring. "Hitting homers, playing great defense, making good throws. And then the strikeouts kind of accumulated a little bit. He knows. That's what he's working on this spring."
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Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: No structural damage in back
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Imaging on Lee's back came back negative Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lingering back soreness has plagued Lee since Saturday, but his injury doesn't seem to result from any sort of structural damage. There's still no telling how far away the 26-year-old is from returning to the field, though a long-term absence isn't expected.
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Giants' Landen Roupp: Fighting for rotation spot
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Roupp is still battling for a spot in the Giants' rotation, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Roupp was seen as the leading candidate for the final rotation spot earlier in camp, but Hayden Birdsong is making a strong push for the job with a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 Cactus League innings this spring. Lefty Kyle Harrison remains in the mix as well. "Look, all three of these guys are going to pitch for us this year," manager Bob Melvin said after Sunday's game. "I don't think there's any doubt about that. But it's kind of cool to have three guys that are as talented as they are pitching for that last spot. It means we have some depth, and it means we have a good rotation. To this point, nothing's been decided. Let's put it that way."
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Generating buzz in rotation bid
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Birdsong struck out eight over five scoreless innings against the A's on Sunday and now has a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 Cactus League innings this spring.
The 23-year-old right-hander is making quite the case for the No. 5 spot in the San Francisco rotation, though manager Bob Melvin stressed after Sunday's exhibition that "to this point, nothing's been decided," per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Landen Roupp was seen as the frontrunner for the fifth-starter role earlier in spring training, and lefty Kyle Harrison remains in the mix as well in what Guardado described as the "fiercest competition in Giants camp." However, Birdsong might have the most upside for the Giants, and he is arguably the most interesting of the bunch from a fantasy perspective.
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Giants' Kyle Harrison: Weight, velo returning after virus
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Harrison showed better velocity in his last Cactus League appearance Sunday versus the Athletics, sitting at 93-to-94 mph and touching 95 mph several times, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The bump up in velocity is encouraging, as Harrison had been sitting in the low-90s in camp after losing 13 pounds due to a virus. However, while his weight and velocity are coming back, Harrison's results this spring have not been encouraging, particularly his last two times out when he surrendered a combined eight runs in 4.2 innings. Meanwhile, Hayden Birdsong (0.75 ERA, 18:0 in 12 innings) and Landen Roupp (3.75 ERA, 14:1 K:BB in 12 frames) have both been excellent. The competition for the fifth spot in the Giants' rotation could come down to the wire.
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Giants' Jung Hoo Lee: Sent for MRI on back
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Lee will undergo an MRI on his injured back Monday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Lee was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup Saturday against the Mariners due to the back injury, which has lingered longer than expected. The MRI should reveal the extent of the injury, and more should be known about Lee's availability for Opening Day availability once the results are in.
