Trevor McDonald's early exit with right elbow discomfort could leave the San Francisco Giants searching for rotation help.
On Monday, San Francisco Giants rookie right-hander Trevor McDonald was pulled from his start against the Kansas City Royals after the Giants' training staff visited the mound and manager Tony Vitello spoke with him before he was set to face hitters in the fifth inning.
McDonald exited the game with right elbow discomfort and was expected to undergo further imaging on Tuesday.
The Giants ultimately dropped the series opener, 4-3, to the Royals. Although McDonald was limited to 4.0 innings, the bullpen helped keep San Francisco in the game, particularly right-hander JT Brubaker, who tossed 2.1 scoreless innings.
What McDonald's injury means for the Giants' rotation remains to be seen. The club could pivot in several directions, whether by recalling someone already on the 40-man roster or using a spot starter.
One option that fits that mold is Adrian Houser, who opened the season in the starting rotation before being moved to the bullpen following his early struggles.
At this stage of the season, Houser likely would not be expected to provide five innings as a starter. Instead, he would probably be limited to two or three innings given the amount of time he has spent pitching in relief.
This season, he owns a 5.10 ERA across 19 appearances and 83 innings.
While Houser's most recent outing against the Seattle Mariners left plenty to be desired, his appearance before that against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 7 was arguably one of his strongest performances of the season.
He pitched 5.2 innings while striking out five and did not allow a hit or a walk.
If McDonald is forced to miss time, Houser could become an option the Giants consider to help bridge the gap.
Regardless of how they proceed, the rotation has faced its share of challenges throughout the season. The Giants will need to adapt quickly if they hope to remain competitive over the coming weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
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