The San Francisco Giants have received uneven production from their pitching staff this season, posting a 4.49 team ERA through 76 games.
While Logan Webb has stabilized the top of the rotation by lowering his ERA to 3.46, the rest of the starting group has struggled to find consistency. That lack of reliability led the Giants to make a notable change within the rotation.
According to Evan Webeck of the California Post, right-hander has been removed from the starting rotation and reassigned to the bullpen.
Houser posted a 5.73 ERA across 14 starts, the second-highest ERA of his major league career. The move was a disappointing one for the veteran pitcher, who made it clear the role change was not what he envisioned when signing with San Francisco.
“I’m not going to be happy about it, but I understand,” Houser said. “I signed here to be a starter. I didn’t sign here to be in the bullpen. So I’m going to do everything I can to get back in the rotation.”
Houser was originally selected in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros out of high school. He was later included in a major trade to the Milwaukee Brewers that also involved Josh Hader, bringing Mike Fiers and Carlos Gómez to Houston.
Houser made his major league debut in 2015 but didn’t carve out a consistent role until 2019, when he posted a 3.72 ERA over 111.1 innings. He spent seven total seasons with Milwaukee, finishing his Brewers tenure with a 4.00 ERA across 129 appearances.
The Brewers eventually dealt Houser to the New York Mets, where he struggled during the 2024 season, recording a 5.84 ERA. That downturn allowed the Chicago White Sox to buy low on him in 2025, a gamble that paid off as Houser delivered a career-best 2.10 ERA over 68.2 innings.
At the 2025 trade deadline, Chicago traded Houser to the Tampa Bay Rays, where his performance dipped again, resulting in a 4.79 ERA in 10 appearances. Despite the inconsistency, San Francisco signed Houser to a two-year, $22 million contract that includes a team option for 2028.
So far, the deal has not worked out as planned, and Houser’s struggles have now pushed him into a bullpen role.
How the Rest of the Staff Factors In
Despite the rotation’s flaws, it has still been one of the Giants’ more dependable units this season, particularly with the offense failing to produce runs consistently. Webb has clearly been the standout, while Landon Roupp and Robbie Ray have at least provided serviceable innings.
With Tyler Mahle nearing a return from the 15-day injured list, Houser became the odd man out. Rookie Trevor McDonald is expected to remain in the rotation for now.
Houser is not unfamiliar with relief work, having made 48 bullpen appearances during his major league career, most of them earlier in his time with Milwaukee. While the transition may be difficult mentally, embracing the role could be crucial if he hopes to earn another opportunity in the rotation.
Ultimately, how Houser responds to this change could have a significant impact on his long-term career outlook.