Kuzul

The San Francisco Giants didn’t limp into the second half of the 2016 MLB season. That’s far too kind.

Rather, San Francisco stumbled and crashed like Chris Farley’s Matt Foley into an ill-fated coffee table.

Yes, entering play Monday, the Giants are 58-40, good for first place in the National League West and just 1.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the best record in baseball.

If you’re a member of the orange and black faithful searching for positive signs, you can find them.

Then again, there’s this: The Giants have gone 1-7 since the All-Star break. That includes a three-game sweep by the San Diego Padres in Southern California, a two-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and a 2-1 series loss to the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

There are lousy road trips, and then there are lousy road trips.

“I don’t think it really mattered where we played these last eight games,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said after San Francisco concluded its SoCal-to-Big Apple swing with a 5-2 loss to the Yankees on Sunday, per MLB.com’s Chris Haft. “We didn’t play good baseball like we were before the [All-Star] break.”

Ladies and gentlemen, your understatement of the week.

What gives? Was this merely a bump in the road—the type every club experiences over a 162-game slog—or is it evidence the Giants can’t hang with the Senior Circuit elite?

The Giants’ troubles on this trip ran the gamut, which can be taken as a good sign or a bad sign depending on the mood you’re in.

Sometimes, the offense faltered, scoring one run in a loss to the Padres on July 15, getting shut out by the Red Sox on July 19 and plating just six runs in the three games against New York.

But the bats also tallied a half-dozen runs in a 7-6 loss to the Pads on July 16 and did their share in an 11-7 defeat at Fenway on July 20.

Likewise, the starting pitching vacillated between exemplary and awful, with gems by the likes of All-Star starter Johnny Cueto contrasting against gas-can outings by, say, oft-injured veteran Matt Cain.

Even on defense, the Giants got mixed results. Crawford—the best glove man in the game, according to FanGraphs’ metrics—committed three errors in Friday’s loss to the Yankees alone.

That hints at an anomaly, something that won’t happen again. Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles elucidated that theory.

“Start with the Crawford errors as a metaphor,” he wrote. “They don’t mean he’s suddenly awful at defense. They mean he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, repeatedly. Why, he’s the personification of the Giants in the second half! Not bad. Just bad right now.”

But San Francisco’s woes go deeper than poor timing or bad luck.

The starting rotation is fronted by ace lefty Madison Bumgarner (2.14 ERA, 161 SO, 142.2 IP) and Cueto (13-2, 2.53 ERA, 142.1 IP).

After that, no starter owns an ERA below 4.00, including Jeff Samardzija, who inked a five-year, $90 million deal over the winter but has won only two decisions since May 30.

The bullpen, a source of strength throughout the Giants’ even-year dynasty, leads both leagues with 18 blown saves.

Then there’s the offense, which has been without the services of right fielder Hunter Pence (hamstring surgery), second baseman Joe Panik (concussion) and third baseman Matt Duffy (Achilles injury).

All three are working their way back, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. In the meantime, the Giants have relied on a melange of mid-level prospects (outfielders Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker) and middling journeymen (infielders Ramiro Pena and Conor Gillaspie).

They’ve had big moments. At a certain point, however, the glass slipper wasn’t going to fit. The coach was going to turn back into a pumpkin.

A healthy Pence/Panik/Duffy triumvirate could be enough to stabilize the offense, just as the return of right-hander Sergio Romo from an elbow strain may bolster the bullpen.

Ultimately, though, the Giants need reinforcements.

Entering play Monday, the Chicago Cubs were reportedly (per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball) closing in on flame-throwing Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. The division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be active, especially with ace Clayton Kershaw battling back problems.

Don’t expect the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates or Miami Marlins to be complacent as the trade deadline approaches.

In fact, 10 of the Giants’ next 16 games come against the Nationals and Marlins, the NL East champs and the second wild-card team if the season ended Sunday.

San Francisco may not have the pieces to land a Chapman. But it should explore all avenues to improve the bullpen and possibly add an impact bat while hoping one or more of Samardzija and veteran righties Cain and Jake Peavy can buttress Bumgarner and Cueto.

The Giants have “checked on” an array of relievers, including the Philadelphia Phillies‘ Jeanmar Gomez and the Los Angeles Angels‘ Huston Street, per Schulman. And Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media floated Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran as a possible target, noting that San Francisco added the veteran switch-hitter at the deadline in 2011.

The Giants limped out of the break. Now, we wait to see if they can reshuffle the roster, get their even-year legs back under them and sprint toward October.

All statistics current as of July 24 and courtesy of MLB.com, ESPN.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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Catcher Buster Posey is the face of the San Francisco Giants. He’s got a National League Rookie of the Year Award and NL MVP trophy in his case, among other accolades. He’s arguably the strongest thread that runs through the team’s trio of recent championships. And he’s an All-Star once again, for good reason.

We say this, then, with no offense intended to Posey: Brandon Belt, the Giants’ other position-player All-Star, is emerging as the team’s offensive leader and one of the key drivers behind San Francisco’s first-half success.

Belt, who is headed to his first Midsummer Classic courtesy of the final fan vote, went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The victory raised the Giants’ record to an MLB-best 56-33. The “Baby Giraffe,” meanwhile, is the qualified team leader in average (.301) and OPS (.929).

He’s second on the team with 10 homers to Posey’s 11 and second in RBI with 47 to shortstop Brandon Crawford’s 58. And he paces the National League with 27 doubles.

Right fielder Hunter Pence is on the shelf after undergoing hamstring surgery in June, but Belt has capably filled the gap as a middle-of-the-order force (though he may need to work on his inspirational-speech game).

Belt has shown flashes of elite potential since he debuted in 2011. Last season, he hit .280 with a career-best 18 home runs but missed four games with a groin injury in April and suffered a season-ending concussion in September that was still causing him dizziness in November, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Now, he appears fully healthy and ready to join the upper echelon of big league first basemen, particularly when you consider he’s been among the top five defensive players at the position since 2012.

What’s the explanation for Belt’s offensive surge, other than a talented 28-year-old entering his prime?

One notable difference has been plate discipline. Entering play Sunday, Belt had drawn 53 walks, just three shy of his career high.

That’s created a virtuous cycle with his increased pop, as McCovey Chronicles’ Grant Brisbee opined: “His improving patience and power seem to be a feedback loop, with the improved eye leading to better pitches to hit and the better pitches to hit leading to more doubles and homers.”

In May, Belt credited a mechanical adjustment he made at the plate late last season, right before his concussion.

“I’m back to seeing the ball, not guessing,” he said, according to Schulman. “The results are not very good when I guess. For a few years, I was just searching for something to hold on to. I think I’ve found it.”

Much of the attention this season has gone to the top of the Giants rotation, as 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner owns a 2.09 ERA and winter addition Johnny Cueto is 13-1. Both men are All-Stars, as well they should be, and superlative pitching has been the bedrock of San Francisco’s budding dynasty.

But as Belt joins Posey, Bumgarner and Cueto for the festivities in San Diego, his profile should be on a precipitous rise.

If the Giants do their even-year thing again, Belt will surely be a key reason why. Heck, if he continues at this pace, he could grab a few MVP votes of his own.

All of this makes San Francisco look exceedingly smart for locking Belt into an affordable five-year, $72.8 million extension in April that bought up three seasons of potential free agency.

Alongside Posey, Crawford, second baseman Joe Panik and third baseman Matt Duffy, Belt is part of a homegrown infield core that’s signed or controlled through at least 2020.

With their three Commissioner’s Trophies since 2010, the Giants have come to expect greatness as a matter of course in years divisible by two. Here’s Belt, delivering right on cue.

He’s refined his approach. He’s an All-Star. He’s swinging the biggest stick on the winningest team in baseball.

Whatever the Chinese calendar may insist, we’re dubbing this the Year of the Giraffe.

All statistics courtesy of MLB.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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The San Francisco Giants scratched second baseman Joe Panik from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics, and on Wednesday, they placed him on the seven-day concussion disabled list. 

Continue for updates.

Giants Make Roster Move After Placing Panik on DL

Wednesday, June 29

With Panik unavailable for the next seven games, the Giants recalled Ruben Tejada, according to Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area. 

Panik Suffering from Concussion-Like Symptoms

Tuesday, June 28

On June 18, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore hit Panik in the head with a pitch:

According to CSN Bay Area’s Amy Gutierrez, the Giants evaluated Panik for signs of a potential concussion for three days following the hit by pitch. Although he didn’t initially show any markers indicating he had suffered a concussion, he started showing symptoms Tuesday.

Panik Has Played Key Role in Successful Season For Giants

The 25-year-old Panik is a key player for the Giants, as he has put up seven home runs, 36 runs batted in and a .256/.321/.407 slash line thus far in 2016.

His health has been an issue at times, though, as he missed action earlier in the season with a pulled right groin.

He made the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career last season, and he finished the campaign with a batting average of .312 to go along with eight home runs, 37 RBI and 59 runs scored in just 100 games played.

Panik burst onto the scene in 2014 by hitting .305 in 73 regular-season games before serving as the Giants’ starting second baseman during their run to a third World Series title in five years. He has built upon that momentum ever since, although injuries have been somewhat of a concern.

The bulk of the 62 games Panik missed last year were because of a vertebrae fracture in his back, but he was healed in time for spring training and gained an even greater appreciation for the game because of what he went through in 2015, per MLB.com’s Chris Haft:

Just being able to get back out on the field again, put on the spikes and get out there with the guys again is a good feeling. Being on the disabled list last year, the way everything happened, was a different experience for me. I’m learning not to take the game for granted. Because anything can happen at any time; it doesn’t matter how old or how young you are, things can happen.

Along with shortstop Brandon Crawford, the Giants boast perhaps the most productive all-around middle infield in the majors. Both players excel at the plate and in the field, and they were each rewarded with deserved All-Star nods.

Manager Bruce Bochy has also taken notice of the young second baseman’s continued development. In fact, he compared him to one of the Giants’ best and most consistent players—catcher Buster Posey—with regard to his plate discipline, according to Pavlovic:

“He reminds me of Buster,” Bochy said. “He’s got a calmness about him. You see him take pitches, and he’s got a plan there, but if they make a mistake, he’s ready for it.”

Panik plays like a wily veteran despite being just 25 years of age, and that is a big part of what makes him such a valuable contributor to a winning cause in San Francisco.

Potentially losing him is made even more devastating by the fact that the Giants don’t have much in terms of depth at the middle infield spots, which means they may ask Ramiro Pena to step up.

Panik is unquestionably among the best second basemen in the National League, and the former first-round pick’s emergence has arguably made the Giants an even more well-rounded team than they were during their previous championship runs.

That is why they can’t afford to be without him for an extended period of time. He brings so much to the table that a lengthy absence could do serious damage to San Francisco’s playoff aspirations.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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There’s a two-headed monster rearing its visage in San Francisco. And while tourists winding down Lombard Street can rest easy, opposing hitters might want to run for their lives.

We’re talking, of course, about Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto, the Giants‘ deadly lefty/righty duo. As we roll toward the All-Star break, they’ve emerged as baseball’s best pitching twosome.

On Monday, Bumgarner was the tough-luck loser as San Francisco fell 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Still, after twirling eight innings of five-hit, one-run ball, he lowered his ERA to a minuscule 1.85.

On Tuesday, the Giants piled on the runs and wound up winning 15-4. Cueto did his part, scattering a run and four hits over 6.2 frames with one walk and six strikeouts.

Cueto’s record now sits at 11-1, and the Giants are 13-2 in his starts this season.

Add San Francisco’s 11-4 record when Bumgarner takes the hill and the Giants are 24-6 behind their pair of aces.

If that sounds like a good time, it has been, according to outfielder Gregor Blanco.

“He makes the game so much fun that it inspires everybody else,” Blanco said of Cueto, who inked a six-year, $130 million deal with the Giants this offseason, per USA Today‘s Jorge L. Ortiz. “It lets us play the game the way we should always play. It’s a fun game.”

They make quite a pair—the “snot-rocket-blasting” southpaw from Hickory, North Carolina, and the dreadlocked Dominican with his batter-befuddling delivery.

Right now, though, they share a lot more than a mutual love of horses. They’re the rock-solid core of the Giants’ latest even-year run.

John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game harkened back to the team’s first Bay Area title run, which was fueled by a rotation fronted by workhorse Matt Cain and vintage Tim Lincecum:

Sure enough, San Francisco sits at 45-27 entering play on Wednesday with a comfortable 5.5-game lead over the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

The Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw (11-1, 1.57 ERA, 141 SO, 115 IP), who is still the best pitcher on the planet. But they lost Kershaw’s right-hand man, Zack Greinke, to free agency over the winter. And while Japanese import Kenta Maeda (6-4, 2.64 ERA, 79 SO, 81.2 IP) has been strong, he’s a clear No. 2 as opposed to a co-No. 1.

The same goes for the New York Mets. They’ve gotten a Cy Young Award-caliber season so far from bolt-throwing sophomore Noah Syndergaard (7-2, 1.91 ERA, 106 SO, 85 IP), but rookie Steven Matz owns the next-best ERA in New York’s vaunted rotation at 2.74.

The Washington Nationals have a fine one-two punch in Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but Scherzer has been a cut below the absolute top tier with his 3.29 ERA.

To find a starting tandem with numbers that stack up to Bumgarner/Cueto, you’ve got to travel to the Windy City. On the North Side, you’ll find reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and veteran lefty Jon Lester, who are having spectacular seasons for the equally spectacular Chicago Cubs.

On the South Side, meanwhile, a pair of southpaws—Chris Sale and Jose Quintana—are doing dominant things for the Chicago White Sox.

Here, let’s just lay out the numbers of these three dynamic duos as of Tuesday:

Glancing at those stats, it’s clear this is a four-horse race between Bumgarner/Cueto and Arrieta/Lester. And, indeed, it’s a photo finish so far.

The Cubs’ studs have a slight advantage in the ERA department, with Arrieta edging Bumgarner and Lester and Cueto in a flat-out tie. But where the Giants’ thoroughbreds really distance themselves is in innings pitched.

Add Jeff Samardzija—an innings-eater and the Giants’ other big offseason pitching addition—and you’ve got the makings of a reliever-saving trio—no small consideration as the season moves into the bullpen-punishing summer heat.

We can’t take full stock of Bumgarner/Cueto, obviously, until the season plays out. At this point, given their early success and San Francisco’s propensity to do trophy-winning stuff in years divisible by two, anything less than a deep postseason run will feel like a letdown.

For now, revel in it, Giants fans. There’s a two-headed monster in town, and it looks like it’s just getting comfortable. 

All statistics current as of June 21 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy suffered an Achilles strain during his team’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 19 and has been placed on the disabled list. It is uncertain when he will be able to return.

Continue for updates.

Bochy Comments on Duffy’s Timeline for Return

Tuesday, June 21

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters he believes Duffy “will be out closer to three weeks.”

Giants Will Miss Duffy’s Bat in the Lineup

Duffy played his way into the National League Rookie of the Year discussion in 2015 thanks to his timely hitting. His average hovered around .300 for most of the season before settling at .295 by the end of the year, and he brought solid power to the table as well with 12 home runs.

Thus far, Duffy has followed that up with a slash line of .253/.313/.358 and four homers for the first-place Giants in 2016. 

When healthy, Duffy gives the Giants another dangerous presence in the middle of a batting order that also includes Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. Duffy is also a solid defender at third base and was responsible for 12 total defensive runs saved above average during the 2015 campaign, per FanGraphs.

The Giants now must turn to a replacement while Duffy recovers, and backup Kelby Tomlinson is not available because he is on the disabled list with a thumb injury. 

Conor Gillaspie is one option, although he was hitting only .159 in 33 games entering play on Monday. Elsewhere, Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News noted that prospect “Christian Arroyo is not far away.” MLB.com ranked Arroyo as the team’s best prospect coming into the 2016 season, and he is versatile enough to play third even though he is primarily a shortstop.

If the Giants call Arroyo up, he can at least fill the void until the starting third baseman is ready to return.

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain can’t seem to shake the injury bug, as he is once again on the shelf after suffering a hamstring injury.

Continue for updates.

More Hamstring Trouble for Cain

Tuesday, June 14

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle noted a right hamstring strain will send the pitcher to the disabled list. 

After missing much of the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Cain has struggled to stay healthy thus far in 2016.

The 31-year-old righty suffered a hamstring injury in May when he finally seemed to be coming around, and now his durability concerns have arisen for the second time this season.

Cain is a former three-time All-Star, but injuries and inconsistency have prevented him from returning to that level in recent years. Since posting an ERA of 3.14 or better every season from 2009 through 2012, he hasn’t had an ERA below 4.00.

So far this season, Cain has put up a 5.34 ERA in 57.1 innings pitched. 

Entering the 2016 campaign, Cain hadn’t started more than 15 games in a season since 2013. He made at least 30 starts every year from 2006 though 2013, but his workhorse status has dissipated and may never come back.

Cain’s decline has certainly hurt San Francisco’s pitching depth over the past few seasons, but it is currently better equipped to deal with it than ever before.

Even if Cain is forced to miss some time, the Giants are stocked with high-quality arms, including Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Jake Peavy.

A healthy and productive Cain is a luxury the Giants would undoubtedly love to have, but they have proven capable of winning games and excelling without him.

One thing his injury does is put pressure on the other starters to remain healthy, but there isn’t much they can do other than take the mound every fifth day and give the Giants a chance to win.

Cain did precisely that for much of his career, but that hasn’t often been the case over the past few seasons.

Although a healthy Cain would be a major coup for the Giants, they figure to remain one of the teams to beat in the National League regardless.

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Player: Jacob Heyward

Position: OF

DOB: August 1, 1995 (20 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 210 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Miami

Previously Drafted: 2013 (38th round by ATL)

Background

The younger brother of Chicago Cubs star Jason Heyward, college outfielder Jacob Heyward may not have the same upside as his famous sibling, but he’s a legitimate MLB prospect in his own right.

The Atlanta Braves made him a 38th-round selection out of high school in 2013, but he honored his commitment to Miami, where he’s flashed the raw tools necessary to succeed at the next level.

“He threw 94 off the mound, can run a little bit, hits for power,” the older Heyward told Carroll Rogers Walton of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after his brother was drafted in 2013. “He’s got some growing to do. I don’t know if he’s going to be as tall as me, but as far as athleticism and all that stuff, he’s right up there with the next guy.”

The younger Heyward saw limited action as a freshman but put together a terrific sophomore campaign that saw him hit .327/.440/.473 with four doubles, four home runs, 24 RBI and 37 runs scored as the Hurricanes’ starting right fielder.

His batting average has dipped to .226 this season, but he’s still getting on base at a solid .389 clip thanks to a ratio of 44 walks to 50 strikeouts.

He’s also continued to show some intriguing raw power, tallying 10 doubles and six home runs while driving in 37 runs and scoring 41.

Pick Analysis

Heyward won’t move as quickly as some collegiate bats, but he’s shown good patience at the plate and more projectability than most players his age.

Baseball America ranked him as the No. 291 prospect in this year’s draft, providing this scouting report:

He has been inconsistent this spring, but his tools remain intriguing to scouts. Heyward has good bat speed that translates into above-average raw power thanks to his strong 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. But he hasn’t been able to get to it consistently this spring.

Heyward has an average arm and average speed. Defensively, he fits best in left field. His bat will have to play more consistently to fit that profile, but he has good enough raw tools for a team to bet on his ability to improve.

Turning his raw power into game power will be his biggest challenge, but that tool is intriguing enough to make him worthy of a selection.

MLB Player Comparison: Brandon Barnes

Brandon Barnes has topped 300 at-bats just once in his career, but he’s been a useful fourth outfielder during his time with the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies.

Heyward has better plate discipline and more power potential, while Barnes is a better defender who is capable of playing all three outfield spots.

However, in terms of the potential impact Heyward could make at the MLB level, it’s a fitting comparison.

Both guys are right-handed bats with pop and solid athleticism, and Heyward is a good enough athlete to add some outfield versatility as a pro.

The best-case scenario for Heyward might be something like Marlon Byrd during his time with the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs.

For now, an offensive-minded fourth outfielder looks like the safest comparison.

Projection: Fourth outfielder, unless his power tool takes off

Major League ETA: Late 2021

Chances of Signing: 50 percent

After a standout sophomore season, Heyward has seen his numbers plummet across the board this year. He’s one of the few college juniors who could stand to benefit from a return to college for his final season of eligibility.

College statistics courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and accurate through Wednesday, June 8.

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The San Francisco Giants‘ Madison Bumgarner is one of the best left-handers in baseball. He’s a three-time All-Star, a three-time champion and a National League Championship Series and World Series MVP.

Here’s a scary thought for opposing hitters: He might also be getting better.

After holding the powerful Boston Red Sox to one run on five hits through six innings in Wednesday’s 2-1 Giants victory at AT&T Park, Bumgarner ranks among the top five pitchers in baseball in ERA (1.88), strikeouts (99) and innings pitched (86).

He’s been especially dominant over his last nine starts, lasting at least six innings and giving up two earned runs or fewer in each. The Giants, not coincidentally, have gone 9-0 in those starts.

San Francisco’s offseason rotation additions, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, are paying significant dividends. But Bumgarner remains the backbone of the Giants’ starting five, the unmitigated stud in the stable.

We’ve seen this guy before, most notably in the 2014 postseason, when he set an array of records and essentially carried the Giants single-handedly to their third title in a five-year span.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a look back at his legendary relief appearance in Game 7 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals:

Now, Bumgarner is doing his October dance in June. 

For all he’s accomplished, it’s worth remembering that Bumgarner is only 26 years old, an age when many talented pitchers are just rounding into form. And, to hear him tell it, he recently worked out a mechanical flaw that’s been nagging him since last season.

“That’s the best I’ve felt all year,” he said June 2 after fanning 11 in 7.2 innings in a 6-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Today was the first time in a year and a half I felt like I had it pretty much where I wanted it.”

A lot of the talk about Bumgarner lately has centered on his stated desire to compete in the Home Run Derby at this year’s All-Star Game. 

That’s a fun distraction, and it would be Twitter-breaking entertainment. Heck, with the 11 home runs he’s cracked over the last three years and the enviable pop he displays in batting practice, he might even have a shot at winning the thing.

Everyone loves Bumgarner the snot-rocket-blowing, tree-chopping, horse-riding, homer-mashing character. Why wouldn’t they? He’s helping make baseball fun again.

That’s a sideshow, though, a diversion from the undeniable reality that Bumgarner has vaulted himself into the upper echelon of aces.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Clayton Kershaw remains the best pitcher on the planet until further notice. Reigning NL Cy Young Award-winner Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs belongs squarely in the conversation. And bolt-throwing New York Mets sophomore Noah Syndergaard is making his move.

Toss in Bumgarner and you’ve got one heck of an awards race in the making.

Despite a run of five consecutive seasons of 200 innings or more and ERAs of 3.37 and below, Bumgarner has never finished higher than fourth in NL Cy Young Award balloting. This could be the year that changes.

Mostly, for fans of transcendent pitching, this is about as awesome as it gets.

The Giants still have questions at the back end of their rotation, with Jake Peavy vacillating between serviceable and dreadful and Matt Cain on the disabled list. Offensive cog Hunter Pence is also out after undergoing hamstring surgery, and the bullpen has shown signs of vulnerability.

But that Bumgarner/Cueto/Samardzija troika should have Bay Area fans thinking even-year thoughts.

As ESPN’s Mark Simon noted, Bumgarner‘s velocity has trended upward as the season has progressed. And, Simon added, he’s continued to lean on his sweeping, bat-missing slider:

The slider takes its toll on many a pitcher’s arm, but Bumgarner has managed to maintain his effectiveness and indestructibility regardless of how many he throws. Over the past three seasons (including postseason), Bumgarner has thrown a major league-high 2,750 sliders. Two right-handed pitchers — injured Tyson Ross (2,691) and Chris Archer (2,607) — rank second and third. The next most by a lefty is Kershaw‘s 2,120. 

Go ahead, talk about the home runs. Bumgarner might prefer that, as he clearly takes pride in his hitting.

Just remember to mention him among the best pitchers in the game. And ask yourself the following question: If he’s doing this in June, what can we expect come October?

All statistics current as of June 8 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Madison Bumgarner wants to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Yes, the same Madison Bumgarner who pitches for the San Francisco Giants.

After taking part in batting practice Sunday in St. Louis, the three-time All-Star and 2014 World Series MVP told ESPN’s Buster Olney he wants to take part in the annual long-ball competition.

“I want to be in it,” he told Olney. “I’m going to be in it—don’t let me be in it.”

Bumgarner has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last few years, but he’s also become a rare power hitter from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. He’s hit 11 home runs over the last three years, including a career-high five in 2015.

While Bumgarner is confident he could shock the world and win the Home Run Derby, Giants manager Bruce Bochy has already put his foot down.

“No, to be serious, I couldn’t let him do it,” Bochy said, per ESPN.com. “We couldn’t let him do it. And Bum, he’s convinced he could win it. I think he would wear himself down in the first round, he’d try to hit it so hard.”

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson checked in with Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to see if Bumgarner would actually do it:

According to ESPN.com, Bumgarner hit at least 12 pitches over the fence in batting practice, with two reaching the third deck at Busch Stadium and one reaching the fourth deck. Bumgarner has power, but the thought of a pitcher taking part in the Derby is a stretch.

Having a pitcher compete could be a possibility down the road, but it likely won’t happen this year.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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