SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ biggest and one of the last remaining questions of the spring got an answer Monday afternoon: Landen Roupp will round out their starting rotation.
Roupp beat out fellow young right-hander Hayden Birdsong, who will start the year in the bullpen, and left-hander Kyle Harrison, who was behind the eight ball from the get-go due to illness and was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento last week.
Manager Bob Melvin put an end to the three-man competition before the Giants’ first of two exhibition games against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park.
“Both of (Roupp and Birdsong) had great springs, so really we could go either way with it,” Melvin said. “Both of them are kind of made to be starters.”
Roupp, 26, posted a 3.75 ERA in four Cactus League appearances while striking out 14 batters and issued only one walk in 12 innings. Birdsong, 23, also appeared in four games with a team-best 0.75 ERA, 18 strikeouts and no walks over 12 innings.
In their final audition on Sunday against the Triple-A River Cats, which didn’t count toward their spring training stats, Roupp got the starting nod and tossed five innings, allowing three walks and one hit — a solo home run — while racking up eight strikeouts.
Birdsong took over in the sixth inning but was derailed by a cracked nail on his right middle finger. While he downplayed the issue at his locker a day later after affixing a temporary nail, it “kind of affected stretching him out yesterday,” Melvin said.
Birdsong was only able to record one out while surrendering three runs in Sacramento. Ultimately, Melvin said, “Roupp pitched a little bit more toward the end.”
Harrison, 23, was sent to Triple-A to continue to get stretched out, and by Melvin’s explanation, it might seem natural for Birdsong to have followed in his footsteps. However, the manager said the decision to carry Birdsong in the bullpen was twofold.
“We want to start with what we think is our best group,” Melvin said. And, he added, “We’re trying to reward guys who had good springs and deserve to be on the team.”
That came at the cost of a roster spot for Sean Hjelle, who was optioned to Sacramento after seemingly carving out a permanent role for himself in the major-league bullpen. Hjelle, 27, appeared in 58 games last season with a 3.90 ERA but had a 6.75 ERA in seven appearances this spring.
“Here’s a guy that was on our team the whole year last year, so that stings a little bit,” Melvin said. “But the message is we’re trying to keep as many guys as we possibly can here and sometimes it comes down to results in spring. Some other guys that are here right now had better springs.”
As it stands, the Giants’ roster — or at least the 13 pitchers they will take with them to Cincinnati — is mostly set. Melvin said he could have the entire 26-man roster finalized by the time the team leaves Wednesday morning, opposed to years past when the group has been in flux up until hours before first pitch on Opening Day.
The starting rotation will consist of Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Roupp. The bullpen will be made up of Ryan Walker, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Erik Miller, Spencer Bivens, Randy Rodriguez, Lou Trivino and Birdsong.
Melvin was impressed with how Roupp handled himself down the stretch last season, posting a 0.89 ERA over 30⅓ innings between the rotation and bullpen between being called up for the final time on Aug. 9 and his final outing of the season, when he was tagged for six runs.
Roupp mostly relied on two pitches last year — his sinker and curveball — but added a cutter and a four-seam fastball this spring that give him a full starter’s arsenal.
He evolved as a pitcher, but when informed of the good news by Melvin, showed he’s the same as ever.
“Pretty stoic,” Melvin said of Roupp’s reaction. “I think I saw a little bit of a hint of a smile. But that’s how he is.”
Notable
Jerar Encarnacion, who fractured his left ring finger in the outfield last week, was set to undergo surgery Monday in Los Angeles, but the operation was postponed due to travel difficulties, the team announced. … Harrison, who was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday, was set to get his work in Monday in an intrasquad game in Sacramento, Melvin said.