Jake Peavy’s Return Is Near: Who Does He Replace?

Before the 2015 season started, the San Francisco Giants re-signed the former ace of the rotation for Bruce Bochy‘s club back in the San Diego Padres days, Jake Peavy, to a two-year, $24 million dollar deal.

Peavy was acquired by the Giants last season in a near-trade deadline deal with the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for Heath Hembree and Edwin Escobar. The Giants dealt with an array of inconsistency from Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong, and the season-ending injury to Matt Cain. Peavy’s acquisition was a must, and he was responsible in helping push the Giants into the playoffs and helping along the way to earn yet another World Series ring.

2015 has been a different story, as Peavy has landed on the disabled list for a back injury, and put up poor numbers before that. His back is probably responsible for a good portion towards the bad start to the season. Even with the return of Peavy, the Giants have had to handle media scrutiny as to why they did not reel in Jon Lester and James Shields.

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Surprisingly, the Giants have hung in there and have figured out temporarily how to plug the injuries that have plagued some key players.

On Wednesday, after a stellar first inning for Peavy in a rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats, there has appeared to be a minor set back. His back flared up again as he was responsible for nine hits and six earned runs. Peavy’s season does not appear in great danger, as he will return soon, hopefully not extending past the All-Star break.

On Monday, the Associated Press indicated Peavy felt “fine” after playing catch on Monday, according to CBS Sports.

When the time comes, who should Peavy replace in the rotation?

Well, Madison Bumgarner can be taken off the list as there is not even the slightest concern to ever put him in this discussion. He is part of the rotation, so he has to be included. That leaves Tim Hudson, Peavy’s current replacement Chris Heston, Ryan Vogelsong, and Tim Lincecum.

Hudson came up crisp on Friday as he beat his old club, the Atlanta Braves, in seven strong innings. Before that game, his previous start was atrocious against the Colorado Rockies, and Hudson was seeing his ERA starting to rise as it went over five. With being 39, it would almost be expected to see some regression from Hudson’s performance last season. After whooping on the Braves, Hudson saved his spot for awhile.

April 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 9-0. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

When Peavy went down, the Giants turned to their minor leagues and brought up Heston. Heston has been in a Giants uniform in the past, as he made a spot start for the club in the latter half of the 2014 season when rosters expanded. The organization had no expectations, and were giving him a shot to act as a temporary plug . The organization was more worried in stopping the bleeding, as the National League West cellar was becoming the Giants’ best friend.

Out of the gate, Heston was putting up ace-like numbers, and appeared to be unhittable. What is remarkable is that he is a rookie this season. Currently sitting at 5-3 with a 3.82 ERA, and stunning the hot Houston Astros in a start for the ages, Heston has gone above and beyond.

As the Giants have grown together to overcome injuries, the chemistry is strong right now and Heston’s confidence may take a dip with a demotion. He too had a stellar start in helping the Giants take the first two games of the four game series against the Braves. In the previous two starts leading up to Thursday’s game, Heston was starting to show signs of inconsistency and what would be expected of a rookie.

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While a decision would be hard to make by Bochy and the front office, Heston is on the fence in regards of safely securing a rotation spot. It is his job to lose. Bochy favors veterans, but Heston has proved he has many years left and belongs.

For Vogelsong, his career looked over after a colossal and miserable start to the season. But somehow, he found an unexpected rejuvenation and put on a clinic in May. He might even be in discussion for the National League Pitcher of the Month award.

At the end of April, Vogelsong was winless and sporting a 9.31 ERA. As an imminent decision needed to be made on whether he would put a Giants uniform on again this season, Bochy stuck with his rotation and Vogelsong had a May to remember. Cutting his ERA in more than half, as of June 1, it stands at 4.26.

Vogelsong’s woes and mediocrity is unexplained, but something internally clicked and pushed him into manning the second spot in the rotation. For Giants’ fans, none would’ve expected to see Vogelsong’s spot in the rotation to be a lock. Depending how June goes, Cain and Peavy could replace the aging veteran.

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Lastly, if there is one person who has deserved a warming comeback, the award goes to Lincecum. Vogelsong’s tumultuous April caused cringing, but how about three years of uncertainty for the former Cy Young winner? Confidently, Giants’ fans used to be able to call Lincecum, “The Freak”. But a breath of new life has appeared to be blown in Lincecum’s favor to start the 2015 season. Fan confidence appears to be back.

A rekindled relationship with his father and going back to the basics of a delivery that made him who he is today, is paying off as he is 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA. The command of his fastball has returned, but the velocity will continue to be diminished. Lincecum is pitching smarter, despite some recent rough patches against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Braves. Lincecum escaped a loss against the Brew Crew, but it could be a sign of an obstacle Lincecum needs to battle.

Bochy has not been afraid to move Lincecum around in the past, as he has shifted all across the rotation and even being put into bullpen situations. It is still early in the year, and the first two months have showed a lot about how hard Lincecum has worked to get back to a form of consistency. It has been a long three years, but it appears his spot will remain safe for the time being.

Examining the rotation, it is already going to be difficult to incorporate Peavy back into the rotation. The club has found ways to make it work without him and Cain. If there appears to be anyone who will lose their spot, whether it is rightfully so or not, Heston will most likely be on the outs from the rotation.

With the recent setback of Peavy’s back during a rehab start with the Sacramento River Cats, maybe he won’t be back as soon as the Giants anticipated. In that case, Heston would remain in the rotation. Standing at 30-23 and 1.5 games out of first place, the Giants have figured it out without Peavy. The likelihood is great that Bochy and the staff will do what is best, and know how to incorporate the $12 million dollar man back into the Giants’ rotation.

Next: San Francisco Giants Host Red Hot Pirates as June Begins