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Hello and happy Thursday.
On Wednesday, MLB announced that San Francisco Giants ace Kevin Gausman had been named the National League Pitcher of the Month. That’s no small achievement given the ridiculous bounty of superstar pitchers currently hurling leather in the NL.
It’s the Giants first Pitcher of the Month award since Madison Bumgarner in August, 2014.
NL Pitcher of the Month @KevinGausman #SFGiants | #ResilentSF pic.twitter.com/dKb88Sz3aq
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 2, 2021
Gausman was, indeed, fantastic in May. He made 6 starts, pitched 37 innings, and allowed just 22 hits, 6 walks, and 3 earned runs, while striking out 49. That was good for an ERA of 0.73, and an opposing hitter slash line of .165/.201/.241.
The righty went 5-0 during the month, with the Giants going 5-1 in his starts. The lone start of his that the team dropped might have been his, as he struck out 12 while allowing just 5 baserunners and 1 run in 8 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His May heroics lowered his ERA to 1.40 and his FIP to 2.20 — third and fourth, respectively, in the NL for pitchers with at least 50 innings.
I think he’s good. I think the Giants should extend him.
In less happy Giants pitcher news, prospect Kai-Wei Teng (one third of the haul that the Giants received when they thankfully traded Sam Dyson) has been suspended for 10 games after being ejected from a High-A Eugene game for having a foreign substance on his glove.
Kai-Wei Teng received a 10 game suspension for having a foreign substance on his glove.
— Roger Munter (@rog61) June 2, 2021
Oops.
Old, random MCC article for you to read
Another fine season ruined by injury: The Brandon Belt Story (Oct. 26, 2018 — Carmen Kiew)
Giants links
- Andrew Baggarly on how the Giants will recognize ALS awareness on Lou Gehrig Day (The Athletic, subscription required)
- Jeff Young on the surprising value from Steven Duggar and LaMonte Wade Jr. (Around the Foghorn)
- Dalton Johnson on Hunter Bishop loving Braden Bishop’s walk-off home run (NBC Sports Bay Area)
- William Boor on Marco Luciano’s superstar potential (MLB)
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants play the Chicago Cubs tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Hope it’s a really great Thursday for all of you.