KANSAS CITY — Trevor McDonald Injured During Game

Trevor McDonald left the Giants’ starting lineup shortly after the game began on Monday night, and he’s likely to be placed on injured reserve as they await MRI results.

The Giants’ pitcher was warming up for the fifth inning in a game that ended in a 4-3 loss to the Royals. However, he was escorted back to the dugout by a trainer before he could take the mound.

During warmups, McDonald experienced discomfort in his elbow while throwing a slider. He remarked, “There’s nothing I’m willing to take a chance on right now. So I thought it was best to come out when it was time to come out.”

Prior to his exit, McDonald had given up three runs on three hits, including a home run from Salvador Perez that stretched over 440 feet. He also hit two batters and issued two walks.

McDonald mentioned that the challenges he faced were partly due to the heat, which made it hard for him to maintain a grip on the ball while playing at Kauffman Stadium. “I’m a pretty heavy sweater,” he said. “For a little while there, I lost grip on my slider and changeup and became a one-pitch pony.”

This has been a quite a season for the 25-year-old. Although the Giants are no longer in playoff contention, they plan to use the remainder of the season to evaluate their players for the next year.

McDonald had hoped to play a significant role in that evaluation process, but with his current injury, his future remains uncertain. After his brief outing, his ERA is now 5.12, having pitched 70 1/3 innings over the course of 14 starts. During this time, he allowed 35 walks, 35 hits, and recorded 57 strikeouts.

The Giants haven’t announced any roster changes yet, pending the MRI results. Manager Tony Vitello noted that Tristan Beck is already en route to Kansas City, stating, “It’s getting attention from our people. And we’ll go from there.”