Hayden Birdsong

Hayden Birdsong has made the San Francisco Giants Opening Day roster.

Fantasy Impact

Birdsong has been competing with Landon Roupp for the final spot in the Giants' rotation, but will begin the season pitching out of the bullpen. He posted a strong spring, registering a 0.75 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 12 innings.

It is down to Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp for the final spot in the Giants starting rotation.

Fantasy Impact

Kyle Harrison was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday. Birdsong and Roupp have both pitched well in spring training with the competition coming down to the wire.

Hayden Birdsong struck out 8 over 5 scoreless innings against the A’s Sunday, per team updates, boosting his spring stats to a 0.75 ERA and 18:0 K:BB in 12 innings.

Fantasy Impact

Birdsong’s 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 18:0 K:BB over 12 spring innings make him a standout for the Giants’ fifth rotation spot, edging Landen Roupp and Kyle Harrison. Melvin says no decision’s final yet. The 23-year-old’s upside tops the group. Fantasy managers in all leagues should roster him, eyeing his strikeout potential for an Opening Day role.

Hayden Birdsong will pitch in Sunday's game against the Reds.

Fantasy Impact

Birdsong will appear in the game after Logan Webb starts. He could be in competition for the final spot in the Giants starting rotation.

Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong is a candidate to land the fifth spot in the club's rotation this spring.

Fantasy Impact

It is seemingly a two-man battle between Birdsong and left-hander Kyle Harrison for who will follow Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, and Jordan Hicks in the starting rotation. The 23-year-old posted a 4.75 ERA in 16 starts last season, and while his 27.9% K% was impressive, he also posted an elevated 13.7% walk rate, leading to a mediocre 14.3% K-BB% that is interestingly identical to the mark Harrison posted a season ago.