DENVER — The signs have been there the whole time. Since returning from a pectoral injury, Jeff Samardzija has consistently struggled to show good velocity in the first inning of starts. Sometimes, he would come out looking like the Samardzija of old, and on those nights he will usually smile and point out that the warm weather helped him get in gear.
It wasn’t scorching in Denver on Tuesday, but it wasn’t cold, either. Regardless, Samardzija never got going. His fastball sat at 91 mph in the first inning and when it was over he was met by trainer Dave Groeschner, manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Curt Young.