The San Francisco Giants boast the third-best ERA in the majors at 3.41, powered by a dominant bullpen and a reliable starting rotation. The bullpen, in particular, leads all of baseball with a 2.83 ERA—comfortably ahead of the second-place Houston Astros, whose relievers sport a 3.28 ERA. Meanwhile, the Giants’ rotation ranks 11th with a 3.78 ERA, reflecting solid, if not elite, performance.
A key factor behind the bullpen’s success has been a more manageable workload. In contrast to previous seasons, where San Francisco leaned heavily on openers and bullpen games, those strategies have been shelved in 2025. As a result, the bullpen ranks near the middle of the league with 283.1 innings pitched. Despite a rough patch over the past week, it remains a strong point moving forward.
However, the rotation faces greater uncertainty heading into the season’s second half. The Giants entered the year with significant depth in both the bullpen and the minors, but that cushion was reduced by the Rafael Devers trade, which sent Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison to Boston. While Hicks had recently shifted to a relief role, he could’ve stepped into the rotation if needed. Harrison, on the other hand, had been a regular starter.
The current rotation includes Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, Landen Roupp, and Hayden Birdsong. Webb and Ray have led the way and are both strong candidates for the NL All-Star team. Roupp has also impressed with a 3.43 ERA across 16 starts, but he has already surpassed his 2023 innings total, now sitting at 81.1 innings. The team may need to consider an innings cap, given he hasn’t thrown more than 100 innings since 2022.
Birdsong, who started the year as an exciting bullpen arm, has experienced a dip in velocity since moving to the rotation and hasn’t been as effective. At just 56.2 innings, his workload isn’t a concern yet, but his performance is worth monitoring.
Verlander, meanwhile, has yet to find a consistent rhythm in a Giants uniform. Though he continues to log innings, the upside appears limited.
To fill potential gaps, the Giants will look toward in-house options like Carson Seymour and Carson Whisenhunt. Seymour has just been called up, and his exact role may vary based on his effectiveness.
Overall, while the Giants’ pitching staff has delivered strong results, the rotation depth could become a concern. The front office may pursue another starter at the trade deadline, but regardless, the team will need to lean on its internal arms as the season wears on.
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