Bullpen competition gets more interesting for SF Giants after rough outing

The SF Giants bullpen competition is coming down to the wire. It may come down to the last few exhibition games to fully sort everything out, but things have become even more interesting after a rough outing from Trevor McDonald against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

McDonald came into the game having a really strong spring training. His outing against the Dodgers is really the first appearance that could be deemed a "bad" one as he allowed two earned runs in one inning of work on a two-run homer.

It wasn't a disastrous outing by any stretch, but it was noteworthy how he was used. His previous outing was a four-inning start against the Chicago White Sox but on Wednesday he was used as something of a late reliever in the seventh inning.

SF Giants bullpen competition is getting even tighter

Maybe the coaching staff was seeing what he could do as a reliever. He has flashed impressive velocity which lends itself to a late-inning relief role even though he's primarily been used as a starter in the minor leagues.

Coming into Wednesday, he had pitched well enough that many considered him very likely to make the Opening Day roster. That does not completely change, but with other pitchers showing impressive stuff McDonald could end up on the outside looking in.

There is another factor that could influence the team's thinking on whether McDonald will make the Opening Day roster or start the year in Triple-A. With Hayden Birdsong's elbow injury, that means the Giants will have an open spot in the Triple-A rotation. As of right now, Carson Whisenhunt, Carson Seymour, and Blade Tidwell should have a spot in Sacramento's rotation and the Giants may decide it is worth having McDonald join that group down there so he can remain stretched out as a starter rather than trying to force him into a role he's unaccustomed to.

The Giants are probably going to have other arms in the bullpen who can pitch multiple innings. Spencer Bivens and JT Brubaker are two guys who can eat up innings so there may not be a need for someone like McDonald who could be used as a long reliever.

McDonald could still very well earn a spot on the roster, but his rough outing against the Dodgers is only going to make the competition for those final bullpen spots even closer.