Like Andrew Suarez, Dereck Rodriguez shows he's worthy of rotation spot

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PHOENIX — Dereck Rodriguez didn’t see much game action in spring training, but on March 21 he got a start and opened some eyes with three shutout innings. It turns out that was a sign of things to come. 

“We’ve come a long way from the spring…” Rodriguez said late Saturday night, smiling. 

That’s certainly an understatement for the right-hander, who has gone from rarely-used non-roster invitee to legitimate candidate to stay in one of the most expensive rotations in baseball. Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto each appear to be one rehab start away from a return, but a night after Andrew Suarez staked his claim to a spot, Rodriguez did the same. 

The rookie right-hander threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks, leading the Giants to a 7-0 win and lowering his ERA to 3.16. Rodriguez said he is not thinking about the upcoming decisions, but manager Bruce Bochy admitted that the rotation was the first thing that was discussed when the staff met after the win, before reporters were let into the clubhouse. 

“I can’t tell you what we’re going to do,” Bochy said. “I’ll address that when we have to. I’m just proud of these kids.”

A couple of weeks ago, Rodriguez seemed a likely candidate to return to Triple-A. He is a converted outfielder, and there was some thought that he could benefit from continuing to throw every five days. But he has allowed just one run over 13 1/3 innings in his past two starts and has shown the kind of stuff and command that can benefit this staff in any role. 

Of the current group, Derek Holland looks like a solid bet to stick in the rotation with Madison Bumgarner. If Cueto doesn't have a setback in his final rehab start, he'll return as the No. 2 starter. And let's be honest, the Giants are going to slide Samardzija back in there, no matter what his early numbers were. That leaves Rodriguez, Suarez and Chris Stratton for one spot. 

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If Rodriguez is not chosen, he has, at the very least, shown that he can help this staff in other ways. The fastball averaged 93 mph on Saturday and hit 95.8, a season-high for Rodriguez, in a matchup with Paul Goldschmidt. Rodriguez works fast and throws strikes, and with that fastball plus solid secondary pitches, he could certainly be a big boost to a bullpen that needs right-handed depth. 

After Rodriguez's first start, catcher Buster Posey said his fastball has a bit more life to it. The league still hasn't caught up to it weeks later. The first four strikeouts Saturday came on four-seamers, the fifth on a two-seamer. 

"There's no doubt, the league will adjust, and it's a matter of him making adjustments," Posey said. "His stuff plays, even if the league makes adjustments. His stuff still plays."

In what role will it play? That's up to the staff to decide, but Rodriguez is doing his part. He threw a career-high 102 pitches in the win and showed that he already is plenty good at making adjustments. Early on, he went heavy on the four-seamer, but his velocity was down at the end of a hot night. Needing one more out before giving way to Ty Blach, Rodriguez threw three cutters and two sinkers at John Ryan Murphy. He said he wanted to change it up since his velocity was down. Murphy swung through an 89 mph sinker and Rodriguez walked off the mound, having matched Suarez's effort from a night before. 

"They're gaining confidence," Posey said. "We're able to come up with a gameplan and they're able to execute. It's been fun to watch." 

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