Giants' Hayden Birdsong: One out short of quality start
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Birdsong (4-5) took the win Wednesday against Baltimore, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out three.
Birdsong fell just shy of his second quality start of 2024, getting pulled from the start in favor of Erik Miller after giving up a single to Colton Cowser in the sixth inning. Miller immediately yielded a double to Ryan O'Hearn, plating Cowser as Birdsong's third earned run. In his last three starts, Birdsong has a 3.29 ERA with an 11:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Diamondbacks in Arizona next time out.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Throws five scoreless frames
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Birdsong did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Brewers on Thursday, allowing two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings while striking out four.
Birdsong got off to a great start Thursday, allowing just one hit through the first four innings before being relieved in the sixth after throwing just 68 pitches. It marked the right-hander's first time going at least five innings since July 27 against the Rockies, which was also the last time that he collected a win. Additionally, it marked the first time in Birdsong's last five starts that he didn't issue multiple walks.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Walks three in loss
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Birdsong (3-3) allowed a run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Saturday.
Compared to his previous two outings, this was a fairly good performance. Birdsong avoided giving up a home run, but the Giants didn't give him any run support, leaving the rookie with a third straight loss. He's now at a 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 49:22 K:BB through 41.1 innings over nine starts this season. Birdsong looks to be the Giants' top option for a fifth starter, and he's tentatively projected to make his next start at Seattle.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Takes second loss
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Birdsong (3-2) allowed five runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Tigers on Sunday.
Birdsong has stumbled in consecutive starts since joining the Giants' rotation on a more firm basis, allowing 12 runs over his last 6.1 innings. His command was better Sunday with 51 of his 85 pitches going for strikes, but he gave up multiple home runs for the second outing in a row. The right-hander is now at a 5.40 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 44:19 K:BB through 36.2 innings over eight starts in the majors. Birdsong is tentatively scheduled for a road start in Oakland for his next outing, though he may be on a short leash if his performance doesn't improve soon.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Struggles with command in loss
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Birdsong (3-1) took the loss against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout over two innings.
Birdsong scuffled right from the onset, leading to the shortest of his seven major-league appearances thus far. He struggled with his command, issuing three walks and allowing two homers while generating only two swinging strikes on 66 pitches. While one rough outing doesn't negate the success he had entering Tuesday, the rookie has yielded 18 free passes across 32.1 innings and will likely experience some growing pains on nights when he doesn't get whiffs. He'll try to rebound in a home matchup against the Tigers this weekend.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Recalled ahead of Tuesday's start
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The Giants recalled Birdsong from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Birdsong will rejoin the San Francisco rotation Tuesday in Washington and has a shot to cement himself as a starter for the big club for the remainder of the season. The rookie right-hander has impressed in his first six major-league outings, collecting a 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB in 30.1 innings.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Earns spot in rotation
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The Giants are expected to recall Birdsong from Single-A San Jose in the near future, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
After he was returned to the minors upon serving as the Giants' 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Rockies, Birdsong's next opportunity to return to the big leagues appeared to be in flux while Alex Cobb (hip/blister) was on the cusp of returning from the 60-day injured list. However, with Cobb being dealt to the Guardians on Tuesday, Birdsong now looks set to rejoin the Giants the next time the team needs a fifth starter. Birdsong, who has a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings over his last five MLB starts, could be recalled as soon as this weekend to make a start in Cincinnati.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Hurls five shutout frames in win
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Birdsong (3-0) picked up the win over the Rockies on Saturday, allowing three hits and three walks over five shutout innings while striking out eight.
Birdsong once again proved he has the stuff to stick around in the big leagues, producing 20 swings-and-misses over five shutout innings to improve to 3-0 on the campaign. The right-hander has not allowed more than three runs in any of his five starts this season, and he hasn't surrendered more than three hits in three consecutive outings. He's gone 2-0 over that latter stretch while posting a 23:8 K:BB.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Named 27th man
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Birdsong has been appointed the Giants' 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Rockies. He'll start Game 2.
Birdsong will temporarily join the Giants' active roster to make his sixth big-league start of the year. Birdsong has a 2-0 record with a 3.55 ERA and 30:12 K:BB in 25.1 innings with San Francisco and will likely return to the minors after Saturday's start.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Punches out 12
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Birdsong (2-0) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over six innings Sunday, striking out 12 and earning a win over the Rockies.
Birdsong carved through Colorado's lineup and turned in the best start of his young MLB career. Prior to Sunday's performance, he hadn't struck out more than five batters in an outing. The only damage against him was a two-run shot by Brendan Rodgers in the fourth inning. Birdsong forced a whopping 27 swinging strikes, including 12 with the curveball and 10 with the slider. He's sporting a 3.55 ERA with a 30:12 K:BB through 25.1 innings. Birdsong's next outing is expected to be a rematch at home against the Rockies.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Fans five in no-decision
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Birdsong did not factor in the decision during Sunday's loss to Cleveland. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings while recording five strikeouts.
Birdsong kept the Guardians quiet until he coughed up a pair of runs in the fourth inning. He's recorded exactly five punchouts in each of his first three big-league starts and has yet to go deeper than five innings. Birdsong generated 13 swinging strikes, including five with his slider. He'll carry a 4.40 ERA into his next start, which is projected to be at home against the Twins.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Making next start Tuesday
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Birdsong is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday in Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The banged-up Giants have only two members of their Opening Day rotation (Logan Webb and Jordan Hicks) available at the moment, so San Francisco should have a spot available for Birdsong until at least three of Kyle Harrison (ankle), Blake Snell (groin), Alex Cobb (hip), Robbie Ray (elbow) and Keaton Winn (elbow) come back from the injured list. After being expedited to the big leagues last week following just two starts at Triple-A Sacramento, Birdsong demonstrated shaky command in his MLB debut against the Cubs on Wednesday, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. On a positive note, Birdsong induced nine swings and misses and finished with five punchouts. His long-term outlook remains promising, but Birdsong shapes up as a risky fantasy option heading into what will likely be a two-start week. After facing off against Atlanta, the 23-year-old right-hander lines up for another turn Sunday in Cleveland.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Allows three runs in debut
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Birdsong did not factor into the decision in a win over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings while striking out five.
Birdsong began to struggle with his command in the second inning, issuing walks to two of the first three batters he faced while also allowing a runner to advance on a wild pitch. He would go on to surrender one run in the frame before pitching a scoreless third, but he was again tagged for a run in both the fourth and fifth frames. The rookie right-hander had an up-and-down MLB debut, even producing nine whiffs on the night, though he'll need to work on his command if he hopes to stick around in the Giants' rotation.
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Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Moves up to Triple-A
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The Giants promoted Birdsong from Double-A Richmond to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.
Birdsong will get his first taste of the Pacific Coast League after he delivered a 2.05 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 61:21 K:BB across 48.1 innings over his 11 starts this season after he returned to Richmond following a rough eight-start stint the Eastern League late in the 2023 campaign. The 22-year-old righty is regarded as one of the Giants' premier pitching prospects and could have a chance to make his MLB debut later this season if he holds his own at the Triple-A level and if the big club continues to be hit hard by injuries to its rotation.
