SF Giants switch out pitchers in roster move ahead of series at Coors Field

The SF Giants made a roster move ahead of a series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Carson Whisenhunt was placed on the injured list with a back strain. Kai-Wei Teng was recalled, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants switch out pitchers in roster move ahead of series at Coors Field

Whisenhunt was originally scheduled to start Monday's game at Coors Field. According to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News, Teng will take his place on the mound. That is a tough assignment for any pitcher, especially a young one like Teng or Whisenhunt.

The roster move was retroactive to August 28, and pitchers have to remain on the injured list for a minimum of 15 days. Whisenhunt could still return in the second half of September, but the odds are not in his favor, with only 25 games remaining.

The 24-year-old pitching prospect debuted with the Giants earlier this year, and the results were mixed. He pitched to a 5.01 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in 23.1 frames. He also allowed six home runs during that time.

Whisenhunt continues to flash a good changeup. Opposing hitters posted a .286 batting average against it, but this included a 37.8 percent whiff rate. It misses a lot of bats. However, his feel for the sinker left a lot to be desired, as he left too many fastballs out over the plate. Four of the six home runs he allowed came off his sinker.

On the other hand, Kai-Wei Teng faces a tough challenge at Coors Field. The Rockies are in the midst of a historically-bad season, with a 39-98 record. Nevertheless, pitching at Colorado's home ballpark is a challenge regardless of which team the Rockies put on the field.

Teng had a resurgent year with the Sacramento River Cats this season. He pitched to a 3.95 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 22 walks in 57 innings. However, that success has not translated to the majors. In only 13.1 innings with San Francisco, the 26-year-old pitcher has recorded an 8.78 ERA. He has made four appearances, but failed to throw more than 3.1 innings in three of those outings.

While the back of the rotation remains fluid, Teng will get another chance to make an impression with the Giants.

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