SF Giants reconfigure pitching staff ahead of series against Dodgers

The SF Giants are set to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series beginning Friday night. Ahead of the series, the Giants have reconfigured their pitching staff to give themselves the best chance against their hated rival.

Hayden Birdsong's turn through the starting rotation will be skipped according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle on social media and Robbie Ray will take his place for the final game of the first half against Los Angeles. This does not mean Ray will be pitching on short rest because Thursday's off day means Ray will be pitching on normal rest when he takes the ball on Sunday.

SF Giants reconfigure pitching staff ahead of Dodgers series

Birdsong will be available out of the bullpen for San Francisco and will return to the rotation after the All-Star break. Really, this reconfiguration is meant to ensure the Giants will have their three best starting pitchers take the mound against the Dodgers this weekend.

This is a smart move and sets up three great pitching matchups. Webb will start against Dustin May of the Dodgers on Friday night, Landen Roupp, who has been hot as of late, will take the ball against Shohei Ohtani on Saturday, and Ray will square off against fellow All-Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday.

Those all figure to be good matchups, and the fact that San Francisco will have Birdsong available out of the bullpen could give them an advantage. The day off on Thursday ensures the Giants will have a well-rested bullpen so the Giants may not even need Birdsong. But if a starter gets knocked out of a game early like Roupp did earlier this season against the Dodgers, then he could come in and provide some valuable innings to preserve other arms.

Birdsong began this season as a member of the bullpen and turned himself into something of a super-reliever for manager Bob Melvin. He pitched so well that he earned a spot in the rotation and has not fared as well as a starter, so maybe a brief return to a relief role will help him get back on track.

Nonetheless, the Giants have to be thrilled that they have their two All-Star members of the starting rotation ready to go against the Dodgers. The Giants are five games behind Los Angeles in the NL West standings so this series will be very important as the Giants try to finish the first half strong and close that gap in the standings.