Logan Webb let down by bullpen on Friday night

Webb was probably done at 96 pitches anyway, but any chance of him coming back out disappeared when the Giants scored seven runs off three pitchers in a lengthy bottom of the sixth. The big inning ensured that Webb would get his first win after two losses and two no-decisions this month. He’s now 6-7 with a 3.93 ERA overall. He’ll make his next start Monday against the Rangers. That’s trade deadline day, but the Giants have been very clear that he’s not one of the players they’re willing to move.

Webb had a shutout going until Cole Young homered with two on and two out in the seventh. That made the game a 3-3 tie, so Webb remained winless in three starts this month. He’s allowed four homers in three outings in July after surrendering just five in his previous 14 starts. He’ll face the Angels next.

Webb was a member of the NL All-Star team, but he did not pitch in the game on Tuesday. That will enable him to pitch over the weekend once regular-season games begin again. Tyler Mahle and Trevor McDonald will then follow on Monday and Tuesday against the Royals.

The runs all came in the first. Two soft hits to left field opened the game, and after George Springer walked to load the bases with one out, Daulton Varsho hit a liner to right that a sliding Jung Hoo Lee couldn’t catch, resulting in an RBI single. Kazuma Okamoto then followed with a grand slam on a ball 328 feet down the right field line. It would have been a homer only in San Francisco and in Yankee Stadium, according to Statcast. So, that’s the five runs. Only the homer, which wasn’t even a barrel, was hit harder than 72 mph. Webb allowed just one hit and one walk after the first. The All-Star gave up 12 runs in his last two starts to finish the first half 5-7 with a 3.86 ERA. Still, he’s throwing just fine.

Coors Field is not a safe place for any pitcher. Not even a sinker-baller like Webb who came into this game on an absolute heater after pitching to a 0.71 ERA in June. He gave up multiple runs in each of the first three innings before being mercifully pulled. This is one of those starts you just flush, forget about, and move on. Webb is scheduled to face the Blue Jays next week to close out his first half.

The Giants said afterwards that Webb was under the weather tonight, which explains why his velocity was down a tad, but it didn’t pose any problems in his latest gem. He struck out six and moved to 3-1 with a 0.95 ERA in five starts since coming off the injured list at the beginning of the month. He’ll likely make his next start Friday in Colorado.

Webb seems to be the lone untouchable piece for the Giants, who are locked in a battle with the Rockies for last place in the NL West and find themselves nearly 10 games out of a playoff spot. The 29-year-old workhorse has endured a down year overall, but he remains a key component for San Francisco’s rotation as they pivot towards more of a rebuilding effort.

Webb struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.35. He has now pitched seven-plus innings in every start this month, including eight innings in three of the four. The right-hander was saddled with a tough-luck loss as San Francisco’s offense couldn’t get much going against a bullpen game for Miami. Webb gave up a solo shot to Kyle Stowers in the second inning that put the team in a 1-0 hole, but he clearly pitched well enough to have deserved a win. He’ll look to keep it rolling at home against the Braves next time out.

Olney adds that Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray are also obvious trade candidates. All indications are that Logan Webb is one of the few untouchables for San Francisco as they pivot towards more of a long-term build. The Giants sit at 29–43, nine games out of a playoff spot. Nothing appears imminent, but barring a dramatic turnaround, San Francisco is shaping up to be a seller ahead of the trade deadline in early August.

Webb is known for being a groundball pitcher, of course, but he got a bunch of lazy flies today in improving to 4-4 with a 3.46 ERA. It’s the second straight start in which he’s pitched eight innings and allowed one run, as he did so in a no-decision against the Nationals last week. He’s allowed a total of two earned runs in 27 1/3 innings over four starts since coming off the IL. Next up for him is start in Miami against the Marlins.