Menez to face Nats in second big league start
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants will get their second look at pitching prospect Conner Menez on Tuesday, when the 24-year-old left-hander is set to be called up to face the Nationals at Oracle Park.
The Giants have a vacancy in their rotation after optioning Dereck Rodríguez to Triple-A Sacramento following his spot start against the Phillies last week. Barring an injury, optioned players must spend at least 10 days in the Minors before they are eligible to be recalled.
Menez, a Hollister native who is ranked the Giants’ No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline, gave up two runs over five innings against the Mets in his MLB debut on July 21. He has logged a 3.29 ERA with 136 strikeouts over 104 innings in 20 appearances between Double-A Richmond and Sacramento this year.
“He’s had a nice year,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s why he’s here. He started out well in Double-A and went to Triple-A and did a nice job there. I thought he gave us a solid five innings in the game that he did start here. We have a need for a starter tomorrow, with Rodriguez down there.”
After they traded veterans Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz, the Giants have created more flexibility at the back end of their rotation, cycling through optionable arms like Rodriguez and Menez when the need for a fifth starter crops up. Leaning on inexperienced starters has yielded mixed results for the Giants, but they could receive a significant boost in September if Johnny Cueto remains on track in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Cueto made his first rehab start with the Rookie-level Arizona League Giants on Sunday, striking out five over two scoreless innings in a 21-pitch outing.
“He was really excited about where he was,” Bochy said.
Dull claimed
The Giants claimed right-handed reliever Ryan Dull on waivers from the A’s on Monday and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Dull, 29, posted a 12.00 ERA in seven appearances with Oakland this season, but he’s not far removed from a dominant 2016 campaign in which he recorded a 2.42 ERA over 74 1/3 innings for the A’s. He will help replenish some of the bullpen depth the Giants lost after trading away Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson and Pomeranz at the Trade Deadline.
“I thought it was a great pickup for us,” Bochy said. “It gives us even more depth -- good arm, Major League experience. So he’ll be in Sacramento. With our bullpen change, he gives us another option. It’s good to have him.”
Dickerson update
Outfielder Alex Dickerson (right oblique strain) has resumed playing catch and could begin other baseball activities in the coming days. Bochy said he’s hopeful Dickerson will be ready to come off the injured list as soon as he’s eligible on Sunday.