Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A Giants team that has had a lot to worry about this weekend has one more lingering concern.
After the team endured a COVID scare, Alex Dickerson’s test appearing to be a false positive, Kevin Gausman was likely headed for an MRI on his pitching elbow following his getting scratched from his Sunday start.
Gabe Kapler reported Gausman felt some tightness while playing catch recently. He woke up with more tightness Sunday, and Logan Webb was set to start for Game Two for the Giants, who lost Johnny Cueto’s Game One, 6-0.
Kapler said the scratch is out of “precaution,” though any issue with pitchers’ elbows is serious. The Giants are well-equipped to handle an injury to the rotation — Drew Smyly looked excellent Thursday and is pitching his way back to being a starter and Jeff Samardzija is in the wings in Sacramento — though Gausman has been their best and most consistent starter.
He has pitched better than his 4.05 ERA and struck out 62 in 46 2/3 innings, positioning himself to be the Giants’ first or second starter in a postseason series. With just two more weeks of the season, losing a high-end arm now would hurt.
Without Gausman, perhaps Smyly would follow Cueto in a series, with Tyler Anderson or Webb contenders for Game Three. Trevor Cahill, who seemed to be headed out of the rotation, also could stick if the MRI is not kind to Gausman, who has not been placed on the injured list.