32 Ryan Vogelsong, SP

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reports Thursday that starter Ryan Vogelsong will make his next scheduled start Monday against the Nationals.

Vogelsong endured his shortest outing since 2004 on Wednesday at Toronto. He is 0-3 with a whopping 11.81 ERA in his last four starts and has not won a decision since April 11.

"This guy has done a lot," Bochy said. "He's earned some things, including a longer leash."

Vogelsong shelled eight runs over 2 2/3 innings of work his previous meeting against the Nationals in 2012.

Less than a week ago, I stood before you making a full-throated defense of Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong. I argued that I wasn't ready to give up on Vogelsong after six starts, despite a 7.20 ERA. After two more awful outings, however, I'm ready to pull the plug on the 35-year-old.

For whatever reason, Vogelsong has lost whatever it was that made him such a reliable starting pitcher in the previous two seasons. He has an 8.06 ERA in 41 1/3 innings, with 11 home runs allowed. His 1.84 WHIP is among the worst in the majors, and 45 percent of all runners who reach base eventually come around to score on him. 

Vogelsong has always gotten away with middling stuff, but with his average fastball velocity down to 89.9 miles per hour, batters are punishing him even more now. Opposing batters are making contact on 84.4 percent of his pitches, his highest total since PITCHf/x data became available. 

It is worth noting that Nando Di Fino is not quite ready to drop Vogelsong, as noted in his Waiver Wire column. And, I still think Vogelsong is much better than what he has shown, but with rumblings about the Giants possibly considering pulling him from the rotation, Fantasy owners simply cannot rely on him right now. In a deeper format, I might still try to stash Vogelsong to see if he finds the form that helped him to a 3.05 ERA in 2011 and 2012. But I wouldn't hold onto him too tightly if I needed the roster spot. 

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong endured his shortest outing since 2004 in Wednesday's series finale against the Blue Jays. He allowed eight runs (three earned) on six hits over just two innings of work in an 11-3 loss.

A pair of errors led to Toronto putting up a five-spot in the first before the right-hander permitted all of his earned runs the following frame. He gave up an RBI single to Jose Bautista before surrendring a two-run homer to J.P. Arencibia.

Vogelsong, who threw 64 pitches, also walked two and struck out one while taking his fourth loss. He has an 8.06 ERA through eight starts.

The 35-year-old is scheduled to pitch next on Monday against the Nationals, but manager Bruce Bochy said there is no guarantee he will make that start, SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who originally mentioned about the possibility of skipping Ryan Vogelsong's turn in the rotation, told reporters prior to Friday's game against the Braves that Vogelsong will make his next scheduled start.

Vogelsong, who was shelled for six runs in 4 1/3 innings Thursday against the Braves, has struggled as of late, posting a woeful 9.43 ERA and surrendering seven home runs in his last four starts. He will try to bounce back Wednesday at Toronto. He is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts away from AT&T Park.

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong could be skipped the next time through the rotation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Vogelsong allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings Thursday against Atlanta, raising his ERA to 7.78. "These are things we'll talk about internally," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's healthy. We have different options. I'll leave it at that."

The Giants are off Monday, which means they won't need a fifth starter the next time through the rotation. Given Vogelsong's struggles and Bochy's non-commital comments, it wouldn't be a shock to see Vogelsong given a start off.