SF Giants Gameday podcast: What 'best news' for Kevin Gausman means for Giants' stretch run

The San Francisco Giants are gearing up to ride Drew Smyly's left arm on their postseason push. After a two-game series set to begin Tuesday in Seattle was abruptly moved to San Francisco due to poor air conditions, Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced that Drew Smyly would start the first game of the postponed series on Wednesday evening at Oracle Park. Kapler also indicated Smyly will make two more starts for the Giants down the stretch, as he'll likely face the Colorado Rockies on Monday before pitching against the San Diego Padres on Saturday, September 26. A left index finger sprain has limited Smyly to just 12 1/3 innings this season, but his workload for the season may double over the next two weeks as the Giants try to capitalize on the veteran's late-season return to the starting rotation. Smyly will have help from others, including a key right-hander who recently dealt with his own injury scare. Veteran Kevin Gausman missed Sunday's scheduled start at Petco Park due to elbow tightness, but Kapler said the Giants received the "best news" possible when a MRI came back clean and showed no structural damage. Kapler said the team hopes Gausman will face the Oakland A's at the Coliseum this weekend, which would give him two chances to start before the end of the regular season. The club has left-hander Tyler Anderson slated to pitch Thursday against the Mariners, so the former Rockies pitcher will likely be called on to face his former club at Oracle Park next week. It seems as if Johnny Cueto and Logan Webb will round out the rotation and face the A's this weekend, but the Giants haven't determined what day either of those two will pitch as they're waiting to see when to slot Gausman back in with the group. With veteran Trevor Cahill likely headed to the bullpen and one of the two longest-tenured pitchers on the staff, Jeff Samardzija, potentially set to return from the injured list by next Tuesday, the Giants can remain on a set rotation or mix things up to seek as many matchup advantages as possible during the final weekend of the season when they host the San Diego Padres.