Wood to rejoin staff Sunday; Webb hits 'pen

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants will make some changes to their starting rotation this weekend, as left-hander Alex Wood is expected to be activated off the injured list to start against the Marlins in his season debut Sunday.

Right-hander Logan Webb will be bumped to the bullpen to open up a spot in the rotation for Wood, who missed the first two weeks of the regular season after undergoing an ablation procedure to treat stiffness in his lower back.

Manager Gabe Kapler said that Webb handled the news like “an absolute pro” and added that the Giants will try to keep the 24-year-old stretched out to keep him ready for more starting opportunities down the line. Webb dominated during Spring Training, but he gave up six runs over 10 1/3 innings (5.23 ERA) in his first two starts of the year.

“We think that Webb can come out of the ‘pen and really bridge from a starter all the way through to the back of the bullpen or potentially even finish games at times,” Kapler said. “We felt like he was the right weapon of the group to come out of the ‘pen.”

The moves should bolster the Giants in two different areas of the pitching staff, as Wood will slot in as the lone lefty in the rotation, and Webb will join a bullpen that currently features only two right-handed relievers in Tyler Rogers and Matt Wisler.

“We have been short on our right-handed reliever options,” Kapler said. “Rogers is on a pace to throw in a lot of games, and that’s really not fair to do to Rog, to kind of put all the burden on him to go through tough pockets of right-handed hitters. That certainly factors into the decision to have Webb in the ‘pen.”

Anthony DeSclafani will start Friday’s series opener in Miami and will be followed by Aaron Sanchez on Saturday.

In other injury news, the Giants placed LaMonte Wade Jr. on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain Wednesday and recalled fellow outfielder Steven Duggar from the alternate training site.

Wade, 27, was added to the roster Sunday after Reyes Moronta was placed on the IL with a right flexor strain. Wade went 2-for-3 in his Giants debut against the Rockies, but he hurt his oblique Monday and felt discomfort while swinging Tuesday. Wade underwent an MRI exam Wednesday that showed a “moderate” strain that is expected to sideline him for roughly two weeks.

Duggar, 27, had been praised for his work at the alternate training site in Sacramento and earned the callup Wednesday after collecting four hits in the Giants’ scrimmage against the A’s on Monday. By recalling Duggar, the Giants will continue to have 14 position players and 12 pitchers on their 26-man roster, though that will likely change when the club activates Wood on Sunday.