Chris Heston reached 95 pitches and allowed one run in a start for Triple-A Sacramento on Monday night. Long reliever Albert Suarez showed fearlessness and good stuff in his first big-league games. Joan Gregorio, a 24-year-old righty, was promoted to Sacramento on Tuesday after posting a ridiculous 0.778 WHIP in five Double-A starts.
Tim Lincecum remains a possibility as well, although nothing is close.
The Giants thus appear to have rotation options if they decided to make a change. They are just not ready to do that.
Club officials say they still believe their best chance to win the National League West rests in Jake Peavy and Matt Cain drawing from their experience to improve enough to keep the team in games.