SAN FRANCISCO–Madison Bumgarner will make his 2018 debut Tuesday against the D’Backs, but the Giants’ starting staff isn’t the unit that will carry the team through the month of June.
Even though Chris Stratton, Andrew Suárez and Dereck Rodríguez recorded consecutive quality starts to open the month, the Giants’ rotation is still without workhorses Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija.
While both starters will throw bullpens on Friday in Washington, D.C., it’s unlikely Samardzija returns before the middle of June while Cueto is sidelined until at least June 30.
Manager Bruce Bochy is optimistic Cueto will be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list shortly after he’s eligible to pitch again and hopeful Samardzija can contribute in the near future, but his shoulder tightness has bothered him since spring training.