San Francisco Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: They Beat San Diego!

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 28: Manager Bruce Bochy #15 of the San Francisco Giants takes the ball from pitcher Reyes Moronta #54 taking Moronta out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the seventh inning of game two of a double header at AT&T Park on April 28, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3 DOWN

1 – Moronta Faltering

Reliever Reyes Moronta had been a nice surprise early in the season, and looked like he was becoming a stabilizing force in the bullpen. His last two outings have been rough, however.

In the series opener, Moronta was called upon to pitch the sixth with a one-run lead. He walked the first batter he faced, gave up a hit on a rocket to second base, and would go on to allow three runs before the inning was over. His defense didn’t do him many favors, but Moronta gave up way more hard contact than normal.

In his last two appearances, Moronta has allowed four hits and three walks that have led to four runs (two earned) in 1.2 innings.

2 – Injuries Keep on Coming

Of course, this is becoming a running theme for the Giants this year. Joe Panik had surgery on the torn UCL in his thumb, and is likely out six-plus weeks. Andrew McCutchen was hit on the elbow by a pitch on Wednesday and left the game, though there is hope he will be ready to play on Friday. Johnny Cueto hit the disabled list for the second time, and this one is much more serious than the first. Cueto is dealing with inflammation in his elbow, and is seeking second and third opinions. Elbow surgery is a very real possibility.

It’s not just the Giants that are feeling the injury bug bite hard this season. The Dodgers are also losing players left and right, as are the Nationals, and Jacob deGrom left his start on Wednesday with a hyperextended elbow. It seems like there’s at least one big injury every day.

3 – The Start of a Long Stretch

The Giants can enjoy their hot streak for now, as they have a day off in Atlanta on Thursday, but this is the beginning of a long stretch for the team. They embark on a 10-game road trip that encompasses three cities, facing three teams with winning records. That’s also the start of a stretch of 19 games in 19 days, and the Giants are going to have to figure out a way to cover all the innings they will have to pitch, especially for a rotation that is continually coming up short.

Next: A Look Back at a Wild Month

Ty Blach and Derek Holland are averaging just about five innings per start. Jeff Samardzija has not gotten past the fifth yet as he continues to work his way back from a spring injury. Chris Stratton has pitched into the seventh three times, and completed the seventh twice, but is coming off the worst start of his career. Suarez has shown the ability to throw deep into games in the minor leagues, but will have to do that up here too. The Giants will have a lot of innings to cover, and getting some deeper starts would make life easier.

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