SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants determined earlier this month that the long-term health of Logan Webb was more important than his personal goal of reaching 200 innings this season.
With five games to play, still holding the slimmest of chances at the postseason, the club has another short- versus long-term decision to make: whether Webb makes his final start, scheduled for the Giants’ home finale Sunday, or to call it a wrap on his first full season at the top of San Francisco’s rotation.
“We’re discussing what the best strategy is for Logan, if he’s gonna be able to make one more start for us,” manager Gabe Kapler said before Saturday’s game against the D-backs. “There’s a few things up in the air there.”
Webb, 26, has already reached career-highs in games started (32) and innings pitched (192⅓). His 2.90 ERA, 163 strikeouts and 4.5 bWAR would also go down as personal bests. He is one of nine pitchers in the majors, as of Saturday, to start 32 games this season; only 10 pitchers have thrown more innings.
Webb previously mentioned 200 innings as a personal goal for himself this season, but the Giants have limited his workload in his past two starts. Kapler said Saturday that Webb has been dealing with some back stiffness lately.
After taking a no-hit bid into the sixth inning last week, Kapler came to get Webb as soon as he allowed his first hit, after 66 pitches and 5⅓ innings. In his last start, Webb fanned seven and limited the Rockies to one run over five innings, but that was it for him after 77 pitches.
“I would love to get to 200, but I think being smart would be great for me,” Webb said after his 5⅓-inning, one-hit start Sept. 21 in Colorado. “I want to throw 200 innings for the next 10 years, not just this year.”
The Giants have more to mull over, thanks to their recent play — winners of 10 of their past 11 after Friday — and the inability of the flailing Phillies and Brewers to put away the final wild card spot.
It’s possible the Padres and the Giants will both have playoff positioning up in the air when they meet for the final series of the regular season Monday in San Diego.
Carlos Rodón, who was on a soft pitch limit in his last start, is on track to pitch Tuesday. With 237 strikeouts, he is one behind Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (who should start Wednesday’s season finale) for the National League lead.
“I think we’re probably in a place where we’re trying to strike the appropriate balance between what’s important for us this year and what’s important for us in years to come and how to protect players at this point,” Kapler said. “The last two weeks have gone pretty well and we haven’t tried to apply any additional pressure to ourselves, so I don’t think we’ll start today.”
