MIAMI — The Giants are ready to reinstate one of the less effective pitchers in the league, Tyler Mahle, into their rotation.
Mahle, who has a record of 1-7 and an ERA of 6.04 prior to his stint on the disabled list due to a hamstring strain, is set to pitch against the Athletics Wednesday night.
Manager Tony Vitello shared this update on Friday, just as the Giants were gearing up for a three-game series against the Marlins. Mahle will follow Adrian Hauser on Tuesday, with the team’s entire starting lineup pushed back due to Thursday’s rainout.
Trevor McDonald, who filled in for Mahle, is slated to start against the Marlins on Saturday, while Logan Webb is expected to pitch in the series finale on Sunday. It’s somewhat surprising, actually, that Robbie Ray hasn’t started since Game 1 of a doubleheader last Wednesday.
McDonald made eight starts, ending with a 2-4 record and a 4.64 ERA.
Mahle’s comeback comes right after McDonald’s least impressive outing, where he allowed four runs over 3 2/3 innings, contributing to a 6-1 loss against the Cubs. Vitello hasn’t clarified how they plan to mesh Mahle back into the rotation or if there will be roster adjustments.
Interestingly, if Mahle impresses enough before the August 3 trade deadline, he might not be with the Giants for long. His ERA was the highest among eligible starters when he went on the IL on May 29, but at 31, he still represents a low-risk option for teams looking to beef up their pitching lineups. He signed a one-year contract worth $10 million in the offseason.
The Giants signed Mahle based on Bruce Bochy’s recommendation. Bochy had managed him previously with the Rangers, hoping he could replicate the impressive 2.18 ERA he posted in 16 starts while healthy in Texas. However, he hasn’t topped 100 innings since 2022.
Unfortunately, Mahle’s performance through his 11 starts with the Giants suggests that he might end up with the highest ERA of his 10-season career. Opponents are hitting .280 against him, which also marks a personal high, and his walk rate is at 9.6%, the highest since 2020.
During a recent rehab appearance in Oklahoma City with Triple-A Sacramento, Mahle struggled with control, walking five batters in the third inning but allowing just one run. He threw 65 pitches during that outing.
Mahle described the strike zone as “weird” but mentioned he was pleased with his performance overall.
Vitello plans to ramp up Mahle’s workload in a bullpen session on Saturday before he takes the mound again. “It’s just one time,” he noted, “he could go up and down multiple times.”
