The San Francisco Giants are looking for something — anything — to jump start the team with how much they’re struggling. And while they’re not voluntarily making any big changes, the baseball deities are making some for them.
On Friday, ahead of their series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Giants made four moves, only one of which was expected. That expected one was the activation of right-hander Landen Roupp, who will start Friday’s game, as Bob Melvin had announced a few days ago. Roupp had been
on the 15-Day Injured List with an elbow scare, and pitched one rehab game with AAA Sacramento.
Joining Roupp on the shuttle from Sacramento is fellow righty Keaton Winn, who joins the MLB squad for the first time this year. Winn lost three months of the season on the IL, and is finally looking healthy. He’s been working in relief while he gets back up to speed, and will continue that role in San Francisco.
That means a pair of players are heading out, but no one is being optioned or waived. Third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with right hand inflammation. It’s the same hand that landed Chapman on the IL earlier in the season, and he’s been struggling since returning — and has admitted he hasn’t felt completely healthy during that time.
Also stepping away from the team is right-handed reliever Ryan Walker, who was placed on the Paternity List. MLB’s archaic rules dictate that Walker will be back with the team in a few days, so we’ll see him shortly — here’s hoping all goes smoothly and healthily for his wife Alexis and their child.
