SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants pitching staff has allowed one run in its last three games and posted the best ERA in the major leagues since June 1.
But what makes the team’s success on the mound more impressive is the fact the Giants have persevered without Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, a pair of veteran right-handers who were slotted into two of the top three spots in the club’s rotation heading into the year.
Tommy John surgery wiped out the remainder of Cueto’s season at the beginning of August and as the month winds down, it appears increasingly unlikely Samardzija (shoulder inflammation) will rejoin the staff before the end of the year.