Blade

Tidwell

Tidwell returns to the minors after posting a respectable 3.00 ERA and 10/3 K/BB ratio across 12 innings over eight appearances this season. It appears that the Giants want the 24-year-old to begin stretching out to be a starting pitcher. With both Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle not really delivering after signing with the Giants this offseason, it’s possible Tidwell can put himself in the mix for a rotation spot this summer.

The Giants’ bullpen usage was a bit curious in this one as closer Ryan Walker was brought in to relieve Robbie Ray in the sixth inning. Tidwell then took over in the seventh with a four-run advantage and all he did was allow two hits the rest of the way while striking out a pair. He’s not suddenly going to usurp the closer’s role, so there’s no need for fantasy managers to rush to the waiver wire to pick him up.

Tidwell, 24, was knocked around during Cactus League play, registering a 9.45 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 6 2/3 innings of work. He’ll function in a middle relief role for the Giants.

Given that Tidwell was facing an All-Star team, he has nothing to be embarrassed about today. He gave up two homers and five other hard-hit balls, but he struck out Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson on his way to finishing up with a 33% CSW. Tidwell is in the mix with Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt and others to be the first alternate into the Giants rotation.

On the plus side, the 24-year-old right-hander struck out two in the contest and didn’t issue a free pass. He retired the side in order in the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second as Jordan Beck drew a leadoff walk, Kyle Karros followed with an RBI triple and Charlie Condon plated him with an RBI single. Tidwell regained his composure to retire the next three in order, but the damage had been done. He’s competing with Landen Roupp, Carson Whisenhunt and Hayden Birdsong for the final spot in the Giants’ Opening Day rotation.

Roupp appears on track for a normal spring training after suffering a season-ending bone bruise in his left knee last August. The 27-year-old righty is vying for one of the final spots in San Francisco’s rotation this spring after posting a serviceable 3.80 ERA — 4.25 xERA — 1.48 and 102/45 K/BB ratio across 106 2/3 innings over 22 starts last year. He’ll need to beat out prospects Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell and swingman Hayden Birdsong to lock up a rotation spot. There’s some appeal in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

The latest development likely eliminates Tidwell from consideration for a late-season cameo with San Francisco. It’s a tough break for the 24-year-old righty, who has pitched extremely well in a handful of starts for Triple-A Sacramento since coming over from the Mets at last month’s trade deadline.

Tidwell followed Landen Roupp (elbow), who threw only three innings in his rehab start. Tidwell then delivered a strong performance that saw him post a superb 43 percent whiff rate and 36 percent CSW. His sinker was just 91.8 mph in this one, which is down three mph from what we’ve seen this season, but you have to wonder if that could be some statcast misreadings given how well he pitched. His slider and sweeper combined for 17 whiffs on 16 swings, and the Giants really have to think about having his next performance come at the big league level.

He also struck out nine and walked two while posting a 39 percent whiff rate and 38 percent CSW. It was Tidwell’s first start in the Giants organization after coming over from the Mets at the trade deadline, and he made a great first impression. It might be too early to tell some of the changes the Giants are making, but it seemed like Tidwell was throwing a tighter cutter and a harder changeup with slightly less arm-side movement, so those will be things we want to monitor going forward. Perhaps his next start will be with the Giants.

If Buttó is the safe index fund, Tidwell is the high-risk derivative in San Francisco’s pivot toward the future. The 24-year-old righty has flashed intriguing upside at times this season, but was hit hard in the majors, surrendering 15 runs over 15 innings in four appearances. He’ll head to the minors for some additional seasoning as the Giants look to develop him into a viable rotation option.