Hayden Birdsong was drained of command, control and collective confidence as he strolled off the Truist Park mound in the first inning without recording a single out on Monday evening. The Giants right-hander was overwhelmed — torpedoed, really — by the Atlanta Braves, surrendering five earned runs, issuing four walks and struggling mightily to find the strike zone with any consistency.
Birdsong threw 25 pitches — just six for strikes — a jarring ratio that summed up his recent struggles, further taxing an already-exhausted bullpen, and contributed to a historically messy loss, the Giants’ sixth straight. They now sit just three games above .500.
As San Francisco’s uninspiring slide continues, the upcoming July 31 trade deadline raises pressing questions about the franchise’s direction. While they’re expected to be buyers, a once-reliable starting rotation is now unraveling and emerging as a clear area of need.
Logan Webb and Robbie Ray were deserving All-Stars, but they make up just two-fifths of the staff. Justin Verlander is looking every bit his age, struggling to finish off hitters and resembling the twilight of a Hall of Fame career. As for the two youngsters at the back end — Birdsong continues to falter, while Landen Roupp has been impressive, though he's quickly approaching his professional career-high in innings.
But there could be an unexpected contributor who could serve as an x-factor in the Giants’ cracked rotation.
Believe it or not, it might be Birdsong.
Yes, the 23-year-old’s stock has hit rock bottom. There’s no sugarcoating it — his last seven starts have been brutal. Over his past 27 ⅔ innings, he’s posted an 8.13 ERA, a 1.84 WHIP, and an MLB-worst 25 walks. His command issues grew so concerning that the Giants skipped his final start before the All-Star break.
Things have unraveled so badly that a demotion to Triple-A Sacramento — or a move to the bullpen — could be on the horizon. Don’t be surprised.
Still, Birdsong shouldn't be written off — even if a trade deadline addition fills the current void and cuts into his innings.
Last season, he showed flashes of top-tier potential, featuring an explosive fastball and a four-pitch mix that hinted at long-term success in a big-league rotation. Command was a concern then, too, and it remains the biggest hurdle. But if he can find a mechanical adjustment — though there’s no guarantee that’s the issue or that it’s fixable — Birdsong could start to harness his stuff more effectively, landing fastballs in the zone and getting ahead in counts.
Webb emerged as the Giants’ ace during the magical second half of the 2021 season, and while the nature of their struggles differs — Webb never battled command issues this severe — Birdsong possesses the tools, mentality and mound presence to take a similar leap, especially if he can make the right in-season adjustment.
"Every single time I have struggles [with my command] I try to find it," Birdsong said following his horrific outing on Monday. "I haven't found it yet. We'll keep working."
For now, Birdsong will return to the drawing board in search of answers. But with his raw talent, he still has the potential to be a major contributor in the second half.
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