Hayden

Birdsong

Birdsong was almost… striking out too many batters in this game. His slider was devastating and he had already racked up 10 punch outs in just four innings. Yet, that pushed his pitch count up and the Cardinals’ hitters finally started to lay off that vaunted slider the third time around the order. Still, he’s ended his season well with 28 strikeouts and a 3.91 ERA over 23 September innings as he looks to stay in the mix for the Giants’ rotation next season.

Birdsong gave up four hits, walked two and struck out six. It was his fifth win of the year and second in a row. Birdsong has strikeout stuff, but is inefficient with his pitches. He’s completed six innings only once in his 15 starts with the Giants this year. Birdsong has a 4.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings on the season. The 23-year-old right-hander is set to face the Cardinals at home on the final day of the season.

Birdsong gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three. The win was his fourth of the year. Birdsong hadn’t won a start since July 27th. He went six starts without completing five innings, but has now completed five innings in each of his last two starts. Birdsong has a 4.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings on the year. The 23-year-old right-hander is set to face the Diamondbacks on the road next week.

The 12 balls on play against Birdsong averaged 97.2 mph, yet he allowed just two hits to the 17 batters he faced while completing five innings for the first time in seven starts. As for how Birdsong might fair against the Orioles next time out, the Audubon Society probably has a better idea than we do.

Birdsong had trouble finding the zone on Wednesday, walking five batters in an inefficient outing against the D-Backs. Two walks and a base hit brought a run in to score in the first inning. Eugenio Suárez took him deep to lead off the second. Birdsong would strand three more runners in the second inning and two in the third before his day was done at 77 pitches. The 23-year-old right-hander is in line to take a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a 64/35 K/BB ratio across 52 innings into a start against the Brewers in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Hayden, buddy, you gotta start throwing more strikes. Birdsong landed just 49-of-92 pitches in the zone Thursday, and it negated his six strikeouts. The 22-year-old also allowed a solo homer in the second. Birdsong’s stuff is impressive, but the command has to get better for him to reach his ceiling. He’ll be back at it Wednesday as a high-risk, high-reward option against the Diamondbacks.

Birdsong allowed just one hit, but he really battled his control with four walks and a hit batter while throwing 39-of-80 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old also struck out five, but this was a mixed outing — as mixed as a scoreless outing can be, anyway. Birdsong is a high-risk, high-reward option against the Brewers next week.

Birdsong walked three and struck out five. The right-hander looked the part until he faltered late, and he takes the loss with Osvaldo Bido shutting down the Giants for six innings. Birdsong has immense long-term potential, but there is just as much risk as reward in his right arm in his current state. He could see a strong strikeout total next weekend against Seattle, however.

Sorry to everyone who streamed Birdsong this week. He seemed like a great pick with starts against the Nationals and Tigers, but he gave up a combined 12 runs in a pair of losses. He struck out five and walked one today, but he gave up two homers. We’d still be open to playing him next weekend against the A’s, but if he’s not better then, his rotation status will certainly come into question.

Birdsong gave up five hits, walked three and struck out one. After a scoreless first inning, Birdsong allowed a triple to James Wood to leadoff the second inning. Travis Blankenhorn followed with an RBI groundout. After back-to-back walks, Jacob Young hit an RBI single before CJ Abrams hit a three-run home run on a pitch that was eye level. Birdsong started the third inning but was removed after a home run to Keibert Ruiz and a walk to Wood, who came around to score. He has a 4.73 ERA. The 22-year-old right-hander is set to face the Tigers on the road this weekend.