Still no obvious frontrunner in SF Giants battle for final rotation spot

The SF Giants came into spring training with only one spot in the starting rotation up for grabs. So far, the three main candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation have all looked good which means the competition could come down to the wire.

Coming into camp, there was a sense that the battle for that fifth spot in the rotation was really going to be between Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong. We saw both pitchers a lot last season and both showed quite a bit of promise as well as room for improvement.

Many thought Harrison could have a breakout year in 2024 but it was not meant to be. He showed flashes of potential, but his overally staline of a 7-7 record and 4.56 ERA in 24 starts left some to be desired. Injuries and a mechanical issue certainly played a role in his struggles, but he is now trying to bounce back.

Competition for fifth spot in SF Giants rotation is wide open

Harrison is back and healthy and got his first action of spring training on Friday. He pitched well, allowing two hits in two innings of work while striking out three. His fastball velocity was reportedly in the 91-93 mile per hour range.

Birdsong pitched on Friday as well and he has looked strong as well. In four innings of work in spring training thus far, he has a 2.25 ERA and has struck out six. His fastball velocity has been up in the high 90's like it was last season which is why he was such an electric arm to watch.

Control is always a concern with the 23-year-old Birdsong, but so far he has seemed to have good command of his pitches. He struck out 88 batters in just 72 innings pitched last season so we know that he has the raw stuff to play at the big league level and truly belong there.

However, another name has emerged as a very viable candidate in the race for the fifth rotation spot. Landen Roupp looked very good in his several starts down the stretch of the 2024 season and he has seemingly picked up right where he left off in spring training. He got the ball in the spring opener and pitched two scoreless innings for the team. He followed that up with a three-inning scoreless start in his most recent outing, punching out eight batters in those five total innings.

He is definitely making a strong case for himself to at the very least make the team as a long reliever if he does not crack the rotation, but if he keeps pitching like this he may force the team's hand.

It is still very early in spring training and we have a little less than a month until Opening Day so there is plenty of time for guys to struggle or fall off a bit, but so far the competition is tight. Without too many roster battles on the team, this battle for the fifth rotation spot will be the most high profile competition to watch for the rest of spring training. As of right now, it seems like the Giants have three strong options for the spot.