SF Giants eye pitching moves before All-Star break; Arraez compared to Messi

SAN FRANCISCO — Shortly before sending ace Logan Webb to the mound in Wednesday’s rubber match against the Toronto Blue Jays, Giants manager Tony Vitello addressed other issues with his embattled pitching staff.

Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, after toiling the first half of this season at Triple-A Sacramento, will likely start in the upcoming four-game series against Colorado before next week’s All-Star break.

Matt Gage, meanwhile, is only expected to miss a couple of weeks with a moderate flexor tendon strain rather a season-ending ligament surgery. He received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who successfully repaired 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s elbow in 2023.

“Good news,” Vitello said. “He’ll get a little bit of work done, then re-evaluate.”

Keaton Winn (elbow strain) is an option to return before the All-Star break or soon thereafter, Vitello added.

Who Whisenhunt replaces in the rotation is yet to be announced, and his official promotion is not expected until Thursday’s off day. Trevor McDonald allowed 11 hits and eight runs in 2 1/3 innings in Tuesday night’s 9-3 loss.

“He’s got a competitive spirit you want out of any guy, whether it’s a starter or reliever. But he also has just a different look,” Vitello said of Whisenhunt. “Even though it’s left-handed like Robbie (Ray), it’s a different arsenal, a different look. He’s been trending upward.”

Whisenhunt, a second-round draft pick in 2022, won his lone appearance for the Giants earlier this season, pitching five innings June 17 in a 7-5 win at Atlanta. He lost his two starts upon returning to Sacramento. In five games last season with the Giants, he went 2-1 with a 5.01 ERA.

ARRAEZ COMPARED TO MESSI

Luis Arraez’s sensational first half now includes a flattering comparison to Argentina soccer star Lionel Messi.

“He sees the game so much quicker and from different angles from others. I mean, it’s a drastic parallel but soccer guys told me that about Messi, is that he sees angles that nobody else sees,” Vitello said. “If you’re in the dugout and listen to him, it’s kind of the same thing, and out on the field, you guys see some things, too.”

Arraez entered Wednesday having hit safely in 10 consecutive games against Toronto dating back to 2022, posting a .489 batting average (22-for-45) with a 1.189 OPS.

Joining Arraez at next week’s All-Star Game is Webb, who Vitello expects to get called upon to pitch and noted that it “works out about as conveniently as it can.”

VERLANDER TRIBUTE

Justin Verlander, who went 4-11 last year in his lone season with the Giants, has announced he’ll retire after this season, his 21st in the majors. Verlander has been on the Tigers’ injured list due to hip and hamstring injuries after making just one start

“Pretty epic career,” Vitello said of the three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion. “… From speaking with our guys, he was just a good leader. He had a good impact on the younger pitchers in particular, but even the older guys. He’s living proof of obviously a physical guy and a good arsenal, but there’s more to the game than just throwing your stuff at a hitter. There’s a lot that comes. into play with the mind and he was as good as most with that.”