Monster movies are amazing. Nobody can deny it. The reason Godzilla vs. (insert movie monster here) has been able to stand the test of time is because everyone loves a good monster movie. The SF Giants rotation could have a solid quartet.
Logan Webb, Jordan Hicks, Kyle HarrisonAnd Keaton Winn all got off to a strong start, giving the Giants the best rotation they’ve had since their first World Series championship. Webb is a true ace, Hicks always had what just needed control and Harrison had the prospect pedigree. Winn stands out as the biggest surprise of the group and his emergence could create a solid matchup heading into Sunday’s game.
Winn’s strong start is exciting. He has a 3.54 ERA over five starts with a 3.96 FIP and 3.46 xFIP. The talent seems real and outside of a first-inning grand slam preceded by weak hits, he would have allowed fewer than three earned runs in each start.
The right-handed pitcher never reached the top 100 prospect list and was never in the single digits on the team’s prospect list. However, he beat out the Giants’ top prospect in Harrison. The plan was for Winn to pitch until Alex Cobb and or Robbie Ray comes back but he started arguing that he shouldn’t be the one to leave when these two come knocking.
On the other hand, Jared Jones is much closer to Harrison than to Winn. Jones is only 22 years old, compared to Winn’s 26, and he was ranked as the Pirates’ third-best prospect and No. 62 according to MLB.Com before this season started. Over five starts and 29 innings pitched, he has a 2.76 ERA, 3.21 FIP and 2.21 xFIP. He has 39 strikeouts in those 29 innings and has a few viral moments (see below) making MLB hitters look like little leaguers.
The match between these two is the monster movie battle we had regularly just a few years ago. Clayton Kershaw against Tim LincecumKershaw vs. Madison Bumgarneror Kershaw vs. Matt Cainjust a lot of Kershaw pitchers against the best Giants.
The best part about these confrontations is that we had plenty of them from a young age. While Webb represents the true Godzilla of this rotation, the buck stops with him in the past. Once Webb’s day was over, the Giants were more likely to use an opener than a six-plus inning starter. Below Bob Melvin, That strategy has changed and it’s given players like Winn a chance to put together the magnificent pitching duel we’re primed for on Sunday.
Tune in on Sunday to watch some great baseball from the future and the past.
