SF Giants rotation hopeful punches out 13 batters in minor league camp game

The competition for the fifth spot in the starting rotation for the SF Giants still rages on. As of right now, Landen Roupp may be the favorite for the role and his 13-strikeout performance in minor league camp will only help his cause.

Not only did Roupp strike out 13 batters, he also struck out the first nine batters he faced. That means his stuff is on right now and he is really dialed in on the mound which obviously bodes well for his chances of being the team's fifth starter.

SF Giants rotation hopeful Landen Roupp looks dialed in

Giants beat reporter Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area also noted on social media that manager Bob Melvin went to watch Roupp pitch rather than manage the Cactus League game going on at the same time. That shows that Melvin really wants to see how Roupp does with the end of spring training near and Opening Day fast approaching.

Roupp's performance is far from the only impressive one he has had in spring. He looked phenomenal against the San Diego Padres when they started most of their regulars to face off against him, throwing 3 and 1/3 hitless innings.

His only poor performance came against the Chicago Cubs when he gave up five earned runs in 3 and 2/3 innings pitched. That may have just been an abberration because he has looked very strong otherwise.

Given the fact that Kyle Harrison's velocity is down this spring after getting a late start and Hayden Birdsong is still looking to refine his command, Roupp may well be the favorite for that No. 5 spot in the rotation.

Perhaps the Giants will simply try and ride the hot hand with that fifth spot in the rotation throughout the season. Roupp may have it now but maybe later on in the season Harrison will hit his stride or Birdsong will come in and dominate.

They could also reconsider having hard-throwing righty Jordan Hicks in the rotation given his struggles in spring training, but that seems unlikely since both Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey have been proponents of him being a starter.

It will not be a super easy decision for Melvin and the coaching staff, but with the way Roupp has looked thus far in spring it is going to be very difficult to deny him the number five spot in the rotation.