San Francisco Giants: Who are the options for the fifth starter?
Jun 13, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) pulls starting pitcher Matt Cain (18) in the top of the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
The Winter Meetings are coming up in a few weeks. That means the offseason will pick up steam with breaking news soon. So far it’s quiet on the San Francisco Giants side with only rumors flying around. So, I thought it was a good idea to look into next year. Who are the options to fill the fifth starter spot?
The San Francisco Giants have a pretty good rotation top to bottom. Even better, they are all under team control for multiple years. Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardjza, and Matt Moore together on the same team? The Giants are set to be contenders for years to come. Now what about that fifth spot? With a rotation that I just mentioned above you might think it doesn’t matter who the fifth starter is.
That fifth starter is just as important as the other four. Sure you only need four starters for playoffs, but if the team just goes 15-15 in 30 starts that he pitches in it could mean the difference between first place and second place. It could determine even making the playoffs at all. Looking forward to Spring Training in 2017, The Giants have four pitchers that will be competing for that spot.
Matt Cain
Aug 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain (18) throws to the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Cain will be entering 2017 in his last year of his 5yr/ 112mil contract. Once the ace of this staff, he will now be competing for the last spot in the rotation. Cain is a fan-favorite and was a huge factor in the Giants three championships. Because of that, and being the only veteran on the list, I believe Cain has a shot to start the year as the fifth starter.
The only problem is since 2013, Cain has been on a decline. From 2013-2016 Cain’s earned run average was not lower than 4.00 in any season. In the last three years Cain has only averaged 14 starts a year with 2016 being his most with 17 starts. In the summer of 2014 Matt Cain went on the disabled list for the first time in his career to have surgery on his elbow to remove bone chips. Since then, he has not been able to regain his old form and has been on DL three more times. Because he has the experience, Matt Cain will start Spring Training as the fifth starter. But, because of his inconsistencies to stay healthy and lack of contribution, it is possible Matt Cain starts the year in the bullpen.
Oct 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ty Blach (50) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Ty Blach
Someone who really took advantage of his opportunity is Ty Blach. Putting up an All-Star season down in triple-A this year with a 14-7 record and posting a 3.43 ERA in 26 starts. In September, Blach was promoted for his efforts. Being a rookie he wasn’t going to get much playing time with the Giants in the playoff hunt. The Giants are not a team that lets their rookies learn at the big league level, with exception to the likes of Buster Posey or Madison Bumgarner. Ty Blach didn’t throw much, only 17 innings over 4 games. But, when Bruce Bochy called upon the rookie to pitch, he did not disappoint.
Nothing was more spectacular than the performance he gave against the Dodgers on October first. With the season on the line, Bochy decides to let a rookie who had only thrown nine big league innings up to that point, pitch against the Dodgers (and against Clayton Kershaw no less!). Blach delivered a three-hit, eight inning shutout performance setting up Matt Moore and the Giants to seal the deal and clinch the wild-card the next day. This kind of performance showed that Blach has poise and is ready to compete at the big-league level.
Apr 1, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Chris Heston (53) throws a pitch against the Oakland A
Chris Heston
Is Chris Heston a one no-hitter wonder? With the acquisition of Matt Moore and dominance of Ty Blach in his short stint on the team this past year, Is there still room for Chris Heston? In 2015, Heston had his ups and downs but still put up respectable numbers 12-11 3.95 ERA. This past season Heston only threw in four games for five total innings.
The reasoning is he injured his oblique which sidelined him for the whole year. He mostly rehabbed in extended spring training and in September he did finish off his rehab in single-A with the San Jose Giants. Depending how he rehabs in the off-season he can be legitimate candidate for the fifth starter spot. Why wouldn’t he be he threw a no-hitter as a rookie!
February 28, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tyler Beede (63) poses for a picture during photo day at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Beede
Tyler Beede is the number one pitching prospect in the Giants system. A first round pick in 2014, Beede ended the 2016 campaign in double-A with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. There he posted an 8-7 2.81 ERA performance in 24 starts. More Likely to begin the year at triple-A in Sacramento, it would be interesting to see what Beede can show the Giants what he is capable of in Spring Training. Beede is the number two overall prospect in the San Francisco Giants system behind Christian Arroyo. That could also mean he could be a trade target.
All four of these guys have a decent shot. What do you think? Who should start the season as the fifth starter? Vote below!
Yo, #SFGiants fans. Who do you think should be the fifth starter next year?
— Around The Foghorn (@RoundTheFoghorn) December 3, 2016
Next: Will Clark Should Be in the Hall of Fame
More from Around the Foghorn
This article originally appeared on 
