Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports
Johnny Cueto has stoked the last embers of Giants excitement this season.
In doing so, he also also created a rotation battle.
The Giants moved up Cueto’s scheduled encore from Tuesday to Sunday, not giving him the extra rest they originally intended because he “recovered so well,” Bruce Bochy said Thursday.
In doing so, they have temporarily moved Dereck Rodriguez, Sunday’s scheduled starter, to the bullpen, and will have to decide whether Rodriguez or Logan Webb will start in Boston in Cueto’s place.
“Dereck we talked to, he’s good with it,” Bochy said before the Giants’ series-finale matinee against the Pirates at Oracle Park. “[He] just wants to pitch.”
If Rodriguez is used a decent amount in the next few days, Webb will be the starter. If not, the final spot will be decided between a struggling second-year pitcher trying to rediscover his stuff and a struggling rookie pitcher trying to uncover his stuff.
Rodriguez last pitched in Los Angeles on Sunday, when he struggled with control over 4 2/3 innings, in which he allowed five runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks. Since he rejoined the rotation Aug. 15, the 27-year-old has a 4.55 ERA in five starts.
Webb is coming off a disappointing outing Wednesday, in which he allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk over 4 2/3 innings against the Pirates. His stuff is livelier if rawer than Rodriguez’s, and the 22-year-old has had two solid outings, two middling and one 2 2/3-inning, eight-run blowup in his short career.
Meanwhile, the Giants envision Cueto lasting in the rotation the rest of the season after he went five innings Tuesday, when he allowed no runs and one hit in his 69 pitches. Bochy said Cueto’s pitch count should be about the same at Fenway Park.