SF Giants Gameday podcast: Farhan Zaidi, Gabe Kapler have decisions to make in rotation

Giants right-hander Trevor Cahill made the start in Thursday's series finale, but it was left-hander Drew Smyly who appeared better equipped to pitch deep into a ballgame and face an opposing lineup multiple times. Cahill struggled through three innings of work, giving up four runs on five hits on a night when the Padres took an early lead and never lost control in a 6-1 Giants loss. In his first appearance since August 1, Smyly returned from the injured list and became the first Giants pitcher in more than 30 years to strike out at least eight batters in relief. The lefty consistently hit 94 miles per hour with his fastball and mixed in a sharp curveball that was reminiscent of the one Drew Pomeranz threw when the Giants moved him from the rotation to the bullpen last summer. [related_articles location="left" show_article_date="false" article_type="automatic-primary-section"] Pomeranz found an offseason home in San Diego as a full-time reliever, but Smyly is likely to make a return to the Giants' starting rotation. Manager Gabe Kapler said Thursday the coaching staff has discussed the different ways they can deploy a versatile left-handed option such as Smyly, but it seems as if the Giants think it makes the most sense to maximize the number of innings he's on the mound. With scheduled off days set for Monday and Thursday of next week, Kapler and Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi can tinker with the rotation and adjust it however they see fit. The Giants will play 10 games without an off day over the final 10 games of the season and can insert Smyly back into the rotation while moving a pitcher such as Cahill, lefty Tyler Andrerson or rookie righty Logan Webb to the bullpen. As Jeff Samardzija nears a return from his shoulder injury, the Giants could bring Samardzija back as either a starter or reliever, but unlike Smyly, it doesn't appear it's a lock for the veteran right-hander to rejoin the club. The Giants now have a variety of options and it's up to Zaidi and Kapler to figure out how they can best position the pitching staff to guide the club to a postseason berth.