SF Giants hope that reinforcements are coming soon for starting rotation

The SF Giants are in the midst of an impressive stretch of play as they have gone 16-5 in June. They have done so without a lot of stability in the starting rotation, but reinforcements should be coming soon as both Ross Stripling and Alex Cobb have begun rehab assignments according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants hope that reinforcements are coming soon for starting rotation

Stripling has been out for over a month with a back strain, so he will have a longer rehab process. This has included two outings for the Arizona Complex League Giants. He and Cobb were both assigned to the San Jose Giants as the next step in their respective rehab processes.

If I were a hitter in the California League and saw that both Stripling and Cobb were coming up on the schedule, I would simply call out of work. Stripling pitched on June 22, whereas Cobb pitched two days later on June 24 for San Jose.

Stripling allowed two earned runs on 10 strikeouts and zero walks across four innngs. On the other hand, Cobb yielded one earned run on nine strikeouts and zero walks across 3.2 frames. Both could be activated soon, which will be a nice boost for the starting rotation.

Cobb has arguably been the Giants' best starter as he has posted a 3.09 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, and a 3.62 SO/W ratio in 14 starts this year. Stripling's first year with San Francisco has not gone as planned as he has struggled to the tune of a 7.24 ERA in nine appearances. He has been oddly susceptible to the long ball as he has already allowed 10 home runs in 2023.

The veteran pitcher is just one year removed from a season in which he registered a 3.01 ERA in 32 appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays.

When the Giants signed him to a two-year, $25 million pact, they were expecting that he could slot right into the middle of the rotation. That has not been the case at all, but they hope that the long layoff has helped him rediscover what made him so effective last year.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler has done a nice job in managing through injuries and ineffectiveness from the starting rotation. Though, it has typically resulted in more usage from the bullpen. Sooner or later, they will need more stability from the rotation and the return of both Cobb and Stripling should help in that regard.

Editor's note: Ross Stripling was activated from the injured list on Sunday. Luke Jackson was placed on the injured list with a lower back strain.