Oracle Park buzzed with excitement as the sun shone down on it gently on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great day for baseball, like a blank canvas for an ace to paint his best work. But as the Giants’ veteran, Justin Verlander, threw his first few pitches, things seemed very wrong. Was it just a bad day or a brief loss of control?

Whispers started to circulate. Was it really an unlucky day, or was Father Time finally catching up with the 42-year-old right-hander? Justin Verlander, who is always competitive, downplayed the worries and said that the performance was due to discomfort. But others who have watched his great career know better. It was the speed that created a benefit of doubt. His fastball averaged only 91.3 mph, over 3 mph slower than his season average of 94.2 mph. This wasn’t simply a blip; it was a sign, a warning of bad news that no athlete wants to hear.

Soon, the center announced that his pectoral muscle was in pain. The injury bug had gotten to him, and now what? He has been added to the IL. For how many days? The man in charge, Bob Melvin, announced he has been put on the 15-day IL. He said, “It just makes some sense right now not to push him too hard, because he wasn’t going to make this next start.”

This new event makes Justin Verlander’s 2025 season even harder. He has had some great pitches but hasn’t won any of his first 10 starts with the Giants. Is his stat line not good enough? Looking at his numbers, he has pitched 52 innings and struck out 41 batters, which is a good stat line considering he hasn’t won a game. His journey to this point has been nothing short of amazing despite all the injuries he has faced. He won the Cy Young Award three times and was the MVP. And still a formidable opponent on the mound.

Want to know an interesting fact about him? He is just 38 wins away from reaching 300 career wins. A milestone that only 24 pitchers have touched in MLB history. So, when the news of the injury came, he was also not quite happy about it, but it was for his good. Melvin said, “He’s obviously not happy about it. He wants to make every start. But we think it’s the prudent thing to do — just give him a little bit of a break right now.”

There’s a whole season ahead, and the Giants don’t want to overlook the factor Verlander brings to the roster. So, putting him on IL is more of a strategic move. In the NL West, which is incredibly competitive and every game feels like a playoff game, losing a pitcher like Verlander, even for a short time, hurts. But the other option, a worse injury that could finish his season, would be terrible.

The Giants can choose from a few options to fill the gap in their rotation. And he just did well in the game against the Royals.

With Justin Verlander sidelined, Birdsong takes flight

The San Francisco Giants are having trouble dealing with the temporary absence of seasoned ace Justin Verlander. However, the rise of young right-hander Hayden Birdsong gives the team’s pitching staff some hope. Verlander was just put on the 15-day IL because he hurt his right pectoral muscle. A question on everyone’s mind: Who can replace him?

A young prospect, Hayden Birdsong, stepped up and had a great first start of the season. His performance? Leading the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals. He gave up only one unearned run on five hits over five innings, struck out four batters, and didn’t walk any. Kansas City hitters couldn’t hit his four-seam fastball, which reached speeds of up to 98.4 mph.

Birdsong’s rise comes at a good moment for the Giants, who want to stay ahead of the competition in the NL West. His performance not only filled the gap left by Verlander’s absence but also showed how deep the Giants’ pitching prospects are. Birdsong’s 1.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 28.1 innings this season might be significant to the team’s continued success.

Justin Verlander’s expertise and leadership are critical, but Birdsong’s rise shows the Giants have a strong bullpen with a youngster like him. The Giants will need a mix of experienced veterans and promising youngsters like Birdsong to help them get through the tough parts of the season and reach their postseason goals.