Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Sent down after disastrous start
Rotowire
The Giants optioned Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The transaction comes one day after Birdsong failed to record an out while allowing five runs on one hit and four walks in a loss to Atlanta. The disastrous outing was more than just a one-start blip for the righty, as Birdsong had collected a 10.38 ERA and 17:18 K:BB across 17.1 innings covering his last five outings. Carson Seymour has been recalled from Sacramento and could take Birdsong's spot in the rotation, with Mason Black and Carson Whisenhunt also representing options.
Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Fails to record an out Monday
Rotowire
Birdsong (4-4) suffered the loss Monday at Atlanta, allowing five runs on one hit, four walks and a hit-by-pitch while not retiring any of the six batters he faced.
This was a disastrous outing for the 23-year-old, as he completely lost his sense of the strike zone, firing just six strikes out of 25 total pitches. Entering this contest, Birdsong has issued four or more free passes in each of his previous three appearances, over which he produced a 7.62 ERA across 13 innings. This poor performance ballooned Birdsong's ERA from 4.11 to 4.80 over 65.2 total innings. The Giants had already skipped a rotation turn for the young right-hander prior to the All-Star break, as his last start came July 6, signaling the team was already considering a relief role for him. Birdsong is currently scheduled to make his next start against the Mets at home this weekend, but it would not be surprising to see the Giants either move him to the bullpen or demote him following this calamitous performance.
Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Won't get start this week
Rotowire
Birdsong isn't scheduled to make a start during the Giants' three-game series with the Dodgers this weekend, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The Giants will take advantage of an off day Thursday to realign their rotation, resulting in Birdsong's turn being skipped while Landen Roupp and Robbie Ray both make their second starts of the week Saturday and Sunday, respectively. According to Rubin, manager Bob Melvin said that Birdsong will be available out of the bullpen for the series against Los Angeles before slotting back into the rotation following the All-Star break. Since moving into the San Francisco rotation May 20, Birdsong has gone 3-3 with a 5.10 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 43:23 K:BB in 42.1 innings over his nine starts.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Gets away with wildness in win
Rotowire
Birdsong (4-3) allowed one run on three hits and five walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win Sunday over the Athletics.
Birdsong continues to have trouble with walks, but the Athletics weren't able to punish him for it. This ended a stretch of five starts without a win for the right-hander -- a span in which he had a 7.54 ERA over 22.2 innings. He's at a 4.11 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 68:33 K:BB across 65.2 innings through 20 appearances (nine starts) this season. Birdsong is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Dodgers, who figure to be much more capable of capitalizing if his command is lacking.
Birdsong (3-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out six over four innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Diamondbacks.
Birdsong has failed to complete five innings in four of his last five outings. He's also walked four or more batters in three of those starts, and he hasn't pitched well enough to limit the damage when his control is off. He's fortunate to have just two losses in that stretch, but he's looking a bit outmatched as a starter at this point in the year. Birdsong has a 4.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 62:28 K:BB through 60.2 innings across 19 appearances (eight starts) overall, but his ERA as a starter is at a less pleasant 5.54 through 37.1 frames. He is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Athletics this weekend.
Birdsong (3-2) allowed seven runs on four hits and four walks while striking out one over four-plus innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Marlins.
Birdsong gave up a three-run home run to Kyle Stowers in the first inning as well as a two-run blast to Agustin Ramirez in the third. More trouble popped up in the fifth, which led to Birdsong's exit from the contest. It's a second shaky outing in a row -- the 23-year-old has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) over his last 8.1 innings. He's now at a 4.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 56:24 K:BB across 56.2 innings over 18 appearances (seven starts) this season, and he's trending in the wrong direction. It's unclear at this time if his rotation spot is in danger. He's tentatively scheduled for a road start in Arizona early next week.
Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Can't complete five frames
Rotowire
Birdsong allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Red Sox on Friday.
Birdsong ran into trouble in the third inning and also was scored on in the fourth and fifth frames. The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the fifth to spare him from staying on the hook for the loss, but it was another mediocre outing for Birdsong. The right-hander hadn't pitched since June 12 -- no reason was provided for the extended gap between starts, though the Giants' rotation has been in flux between the trade that sent Kyle Harrison to Boston and Justin Verlander's recent return from a pectoral injury. Birdsong has failed to complete five innings in three of his last five outings and now has a 3.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 55:20 K:BB through 52.2 innings over 17 appearances (six starts) this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home in a favorable matchup versus the Marlins.
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