The San Francisco Giants will now be without Trevor McDonald after he was diagnosed with a right elbow strain.
The San Francisco Giants received concerning news regarding their rotation after right-hander Trevor McDonald was diagnosed with a right elbow strain following his start against the Kansas City Royals.
McDonald has been placed on the 15-day Injured List after leaving Monday night's contest at Kauffman Stadium before throwing a pitch in the fifth inning.
The 25-year-old completed his warm-up for the frame, but manager Tony Vitello and a member of the training staff quickly visited the mound. After a brief conversation, McDonald surrendered the baseball and walked off the field alongside the trainer.
The Giants sent McDonald for imaging on Tuesday, which confirmed the elbow strain. While the organization has identified the injury, there is still no timetable for what comes next, leaving his recovery timeline uncertain.
Rotation takes another hit
McDonald's departure creates another challenge for a Giants pitching staff that has already been forced to navigate injuries throughout the season.
To fill the vacant roster spot, San Francisco recalled right-hander Tristan Beck from Triple-A Sacramento before Tuesday's game against Kansas City. Beck provides the club with another experienced arm capable of working in multiple roles while the Giants evaluate McDonald's condition.
Any extended absence from McDonald would further test the organization's pitching depth during the second half of the season.
Strong start cut short
Before exiting, McDonald appeared to be in position for another solid outing.
The right-hander worked effectively through the opening three innings before Kansas City's lineup broke through in the fourth. Salvador Perez changed the game with a towering two-run home run to put the Royals on the board, and Isaac Collins later added an RBI single with two outs to cap the rally.
Despite the difficult fourth inning, McDonald's night ultimately became secondary to his health. The decision to remove him before the fifth inning suggests the discomfort surfaced after he completed the fourth, allowing the Giants to avoid the risk of aggravating the injury.
With McDonald now sidelined, San Francisco will look to Beck and the rest of its pitching depth to help stabilize the rotation while the club awaits further clarity on the young right-hander's recovery.
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