More pitching, more problems

Giants 4, Marlins 2

Three months ago the Giants had a three-headed problem. With one open spot in the rotation, it was up to Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, and Landon Roupp to prove it should be theirs.

Roupp defied the odds and beat out his teammates, leaving Birdsong in the bullpen and Harrison in Sacramento. But the opening day roster is only the opening day roster for one game.

Three months later, all three pitchers are not only in the starting rotation but succeeding in it. Birdsong allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday, lowering the trio's collective ERA to 3.11. Together they've cast aside Jordan Hicks (6.47 ERA) and made for an interesting dilemma when Justin Verlander (4.33 ERA) recovers from his injury.

Too much young pitching is always a good problem to have. And the solution might involve helping an offense in its worst stretch since Gerald Ford was in office.

Up next: The Giants come back home to face the Padres, who already tagged Logan Webb (5-5, 2.82 ERA) for five runs in his worst start of the year. We’ll see how it shakes out at 6:45 pm.

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