Howard (1-1) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight over 4.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Monday.
Howard again worked as a reliever, and he didn't enter the game until the fifth inning. He was able to lock things down for the Giants, enabling their comeback. Howard is now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB over 21.1 innings across six appearances (two starts). San Francisco's rotation is an injury-riddled mess, and that's unlikely to change until July, so Howard will probably continue serving as a bulk reliever. He should be available to make an appearance in this weekend's series versus the Dodgers.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: On tap for bulk relief Monday
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Howard is expected to serve as the Giants' primary pitcher out of the bullpen in Monday's game against the Cubs, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Left-hander Erik Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher but isn't likely to work more than an inning or two before turning the game over to Howard, who is expected to eat up the bulk of the innings. Howard covered just one frame in his last appearance, but prior to that, he averaged nearly four innings and more than 60 pitches in his first four outings for the Giants following his May 28 call-up from Triple-A Sacramento.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Gives up two earned runs in relief
Rotowire
Howard was charged with three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over one inning of relief in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Cubs. He recorded three strikeouts.
After making both of his previous two appearances as a starter, Howard was deployed out of the bullpen behind opening pitcher Erik Miller. Miller left the game after pitching the first inning, then Spencer Bivens, Sean Hjelle and Taylor Rogers worked innings two through six before Howard entered the game in the top of the seventh. Though he worked just one frame, Howard tossed 33 pitches and should remain fairly stretched out if the Giants need to turn to him for a start or a bulk-relief appearance during the team's four-game series against the Cubs to begin the upcoming week. The Giants currently have just two healthy full-time starters (Logan Webb and Jordan Hicks).
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Working behind opener
Rotowire
Howard is expected to serve as the Giants' bulk reliever Wednesday against the Cubs behind opening pitcher Erik Miller.
Howard worked as a starter his last time out Friday against the Angels, but he was roughed up for four earned runs on seven hits and four walks before he was pulled from the game midway through the third inning. The Giants will have him work behind Miller on Wednesday with the hope of generating better results from the right-hander.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Labors in loss
Rotowire
Howard (0-1) allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one over 2.1 innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Angels.
Howard had been generally passable over his first three appearances (one start), but he struggled as the starter against a weak offense Friday. The Angels got on the board in the second inning and then poured it on in the third before Howard exited the contest. He's now at a 4.02 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB over 15.2 innings this season. The right-hander's time in the rotation was always likely to be temporary, though none of Blake Snell (groin), Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) or Robbie Ray (elbow) are particularly close to returning. If Howard remains in the rotation, he's lined up to make his next appearance on the road against the Cubs.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Goes 4.2 innings again vs. Texas
Rotowire
Howard didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Rangers, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.
Howard ran into some trouble in the first inning, walking the first two batters he faced before ultimately allowing a run on a sacrifice fly. While he'd hold the Rangers scoreless over his final 3.2 frames, Howard would wind up an out shy of qualifying for the win. The 27-year-old right-hander has yet to make it through five innings through his first three outings with the Giants this year, though he's allowed just three earned runs over 13.1 frames. Howard figures to remain in the rotation until Blake Snell (groin) is ready to return. He's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Angels in his next start.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Allows two runs
Rotowire
Howard yielded two runs on four hits over 4.2 innings in a no-decision Monday. He struck out three during the loss to Arizona.
Both runs against Howard came during the second inning after he took over for Erik Miller, who opened the game with a scoreless frame. Howard found a groove and didn't face much of a threat after that second-inning hiccup. In two outings since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, he's posted a 7:0 K:BB and a 2.08 ERA through 8.2 innings. With Blake Snell (groin) back on the injured list, Howard could make another start or be used as a bulk reliever again later this week.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Impresses in bulk relief
Rotowire
Howard didn'tt factor into the decision in Tuesday's 1-0 extra-inning win over the Phillies, striking out four over four scoreless innings while scattering five hits and no walks.
Howard ended up being the third pitcher to enter the game for the Giants after Erik Miller pitched one inning as the Giants' opener before reliever Taylor Rogers completed two more innings after him. Howard, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento earlier Tuesday, kept his former team scoreless through the seventh but couldn't get a win after the Giants poked the game's only run across in the 10th. Given the current back-end rotation issues, Howard certainly has given himself a good chance to stick around for now, though the Giants have yet to announce any official plans for the 27-year-old moving forward.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Promoted, likely to pitch Tuesday
Rotowire
The Giants selected Howard's contract from Triple-A Sacramento, and he's expected to serve as the primary pitcher Tuesday against the Phillies, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Erik Miller is starting Tuesday's contest for the Giants, and Howard is expected to see some bulk innings behind the opener. Howard has showcased his swing-and-miss stuff at Triple-A Sacramento this season with a 13.1 K/9, but his 5.90 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 39.2 innings are otherwise underwhelming.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Giants reassigned Howard to minor-league camp Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Howard signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Nov. 10 and was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He posted a 1.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB over 9.2 innings, but it ultimately wasn't enough. Howard has struggled at the big-league level, but a productive stint in Triple-A could give the Giants a reason to call him up to the majors this season.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Could get look in rotation
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Howard could have a chance to make the Giants' Opening Day rotation if Keaton Winn (elbow) isn't ready, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
An MRI on Winn's elbow came back clean, but his status is up in the air. Howard is with the Giants as a non-roster invitee and appears to be one of the top candidates to fill in for Winn, if needed. The 27-year-old has flopped so far at the big-league level, holding a 7.20 ERA and 109:55 K:BB over 115 innings covering 29 starts and nine relief appearances.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Latches on with Giants
Rotowire
Howard signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday.
Howard made three major-league appearances with the Rangers in 2023, though most of his time was spent in Triple-A, where he put up a 6.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 21 frames. Given his career 7.20 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 115 innings in the majors, it's unlikely Howard makes an impact with the Giants.
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Yankees' Spencer Howard: On minor-league injured list
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Howard left his outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a team trainer Saturday and was placed on the seven-day injured list with an undisclosed issue,Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune reports.
The nature and severity of Howard's injury are not clear. The 27-year-old righty likely wasn't going to play a major role for the Yankees down the stretch even if healthy, as he was acquired for cash at the deadline and owns a career 7.20 ERA in 115 major-league innings.
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Yankees' Spencer Howard: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Yankees optioned Howard to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
After being dealt from Texas to the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for cash, Howard will head back to Triple-A. The 27-year-old righty holds a 5.40 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through 18.1 frames in the minors this season and hasn't been very effective throughout his big-league career.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Returns to majors
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Howard was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
Howard had a disastrous appearance last month with the Rangers but has pitched well in the minors this season after recovering from a lat strain. He figures to be used in low-leverage situations.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Howard was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Howard made his season debut Friday after missing the first two months of the season with a lat strain, and it couldn't have gone much worse. The Rays bullied him to the tune of four runs in one-third of an inning, as he walked one batter, hit another and gave up four hits. Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers believe they called Howard up too early, as he joined the team after making just two rehab outings. He'll continue to get stretched out in the minors and is a potential rotation option if the Rangers get hit with more injuries.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Brought back from IL
Rotowire
The Rangers activated Howard (lat) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Howard has been sidelined all season with a right lat strain but has been cleared to return following a two-appearance minor-league rehab assignment in which he struck out seven and walked one over 3.2 hitless innings. Though he's worked primarily as a starter for the Rangers since being acquired from the Phillies in July 2021, his usage in the minors prior to being activated suggests Texas plans on deploying him as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen now that he's healthy again.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Howard (lat) has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock to begin a rehab assignment.
Howard has been out all season with a right lat strain but has been throwing the ball well of late at the Rangers' spring training complex, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. It's not clear whether the Rangers plan to use him as a starter or reliever once he's activated.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Rangers diagnosed Howard with a right lat strain and transferred him from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of catcher Sandy Leon. Howard was first injured back in early March and now isn't eligible to return until late May.
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Rangers' Spencer Howard: Goes on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Texas placed Howard (arm) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Howard began experiencing right arm fatigue in early March and still needs to build back up into regular-season form. There's no exact timeframe for when he might be an option in Texas.
