SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants have gotten more starts out of their core rotation pieces than some might have expected coming into the season, but a key lefty won't appear again this year.
Alex Wood hasn't pitched since Aug. 31 because of a left shoulder impingement, and manager Gabe Kapler announced Sunday that the injury will end Wood's second season with the Giants. He had not yet been cleared to throw and, with less than three weeks left in the season, the Giants have run out of time to get him ready.
Wood signed a two-year deal in the offseason to remain in San Francisco and posted a 5.10 ERA in 26 appearances, but most of his underlying metrics were in line with a strong 2021. Wood had a 3.76 FIP, and his strikeout and walk rates were similar to the previous year. Like most Giants pitchers, he was hurt often by one of the worst defenses in the Majors, but he was more inconsistent than the others in the rotation.
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"I thought Alex pitched very well in stretches and I think there were some moments of challenges like all pitchers have," Kapler said. "I think that we could have done a better job of defending behind him, which would have changed a lot of core elements of his season. All of the pieces are in place for Alex to have an excellent season in 2023.
"The same characteristics that made him good for us last year and in stretches this year are still very much in place and he's going to be a core piece of our rotation next year."
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Wood signed a two-year, $25 million contract in November just before the lockout started. He is owed $12.5 million next year and will be counted on to be a key piece of a rotation that is in better shape than it was this time a year ago. Logan Webb will once again be at the top and Alex Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani -- who also had his season ended by an injury -- are signed for next season. The Giants likely will lose Carlos Rodón to free agency and will need to replace a chunk of that production, but they do expect Kyle Harrison to make an impact at some point next season.
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As for the rest of this year, the Giants likely will go with bullpen games to fill Wood's rotation spot. It will come up again on Thursday at Coors Field. Sean Hjelle, who got roughed up Saturday, remains an option to take down the bulk of the innings.
For Wood, the news was disappointing, but as the Giants focus on replacing him the next three weeks, Wood has bigger things to worry about. He and his wife, Suzanna, are expecting their first child this week.