San Francisco rolls across the Causeway to Sutter Health Park Friday night riding three wins in their last five, but they're still 18-26 and staring down an A's club that has quietly hung 22 wins on the board. The opener of the weekend set is also a fireworks night, which is fitting because somebody's rotation is going to combust here.
The pitching gap is the headline. Aaron Civale is 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA and has been one of the more pleasant turnaround stories in the AL — the former Guardian has gone at least 5 innings in basically every outing and is pitching the best baseball of his career in green and gold. Tyler Mahle is the inverse: 1-4, 5.18, and coming off a long-relief bullpen stint against Tampa where he tossed 5.1 scoreless out of the pen. Whether that resets him or just papers over a rough month is the entire bet.
The Giants are also navigating this one without Logan Webb, who's working back from a knee issue on the 15-day IL but tracking toward a return. The bullpen behind Mahle is the bigger concern — Randy Rodriguez, Hayden Birdsong (UCL surgery), Jose Butto, Rowan Wick, and Reiver Sanmartin are all on the 60-day. That's a lot of arms to be missing in a game where the starter has a 5-handle ERA.
- 10-Day-ILDaniel Susac C — Susac (elbow) is nearing a return and may be reinstated from the injured list as soon as Friday's game against the Athletics, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLogan Webb SP — Webb (knee) is on track to return to action after a minimum-length stay on the 15-day injured list, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
- 15-Day-ILErik Miller RP — Miller (back) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
- 60-Day-ILJason Foley RP — Foley (shoulder) will make his next rehab appearance for Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
- 60-Day-ILJared Oliva CF — The Giants transferred Oliva (wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILRowan Wick RP — The Giants placed Wick (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
- 60-Day-ILHayden Birdsong RP — Birdsong underwent successful UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
- 60-Day-ILReiver Sanmartin RP — The Giants placed Sanmartin (hip) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy 3B — Muncy (hand) is still being held out of all baseball activities and has no timetable for a return, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (foot) is continuing baseball activities and has progressed to on-field batting practice and outfield drills, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson SS — Wilson was diagnosed with a left shoulder sprain after exiting Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrooks Kriske RP — Kriske was removed from Tuesday's game against the Cardinals with right shoulder soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) was given a cortisone injection in his left hip May 1, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The A's aren't exactly whole either. Jacob Wilson is on the shelf with a shoulder sprain, Max Muncy still has no timetable on the hand, and Denzel Clarke is working his way back from a foot issue. Even shorthanded, this lineup has been productive enough to keep them above .500 and in the AL West conversation, which makes Civale's run that much more important to the operation.
Pinnacle has the A's -137 with the total at 10, and it's not hard to see why — home park, the better arm, the better record. The Giants' path is Mahle stealing 5 quiet innings and the offense punching Civale early before he settles in. That's a real path. It's just a narrow one.