Giants' Spencer Howard: Back in San Francisco on MiLB deal
Rotowire
The Giants signed Howard to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Howard began the season with the Giants before being designated for assignment and then traded to the Guardians in July. Cleveland dropped him from its 40-man roster shortly after that, and he's now returned to the Giants organization and been assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. Howard holds a 6.21 ERA and 27:14 K:BB in 29 big-league innings covering three starts and six relief appearances in 2024.
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Spencer Howard: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Howard elected free agency Monday after he was outrighted off the Guardians' 40-man roster.
After being acquired from the Giants on July 5, Howard made two appearances (one start) for Cleveland before he was pushed off the 40-man roster July 21. Between his stops with San Francisco and Cleveland, Howard turned in a 6.21 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over 29 innings, and his numbers with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento (5.90 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 57:17 K:BB in 39.2 innings) weren't especially inspiring, either. As such, Howard will most likely have to settle for a minor-league deal in free agency.
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Guardians' Spencer Howard: Pushed off 40-man roster
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The Guardians designated Howard for assignment Sunday.
After being acquired from the Giants earlier this month, Howard stepped into the rotation for his Guardians debut July 11, but he lasted just three innings and gave up four earned runs in a loss against the Tigers. The Guardians turned to him in relief for his next appearance in Saturday's 7-0 loss to the Padres and he once again struggled, surrendering four runs (one earned) on four hits -- including two home runs -- in two innings. After the pair of poor outings, the Guardians will move on from Howard and replace him on the 26-man active roster with righty Peter Strzelecki, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus ahead of Sunday's series finale with San Diego.
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Guardians' Spencer Howard: Struggles in team debut
Rotowire
Howard (1-2) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over three innings against the Tigers. He struck out four.
It's a new team but a similar result for Howard, as he required 75 pitches to get through three frames. The right-hander was acquired from San Francisco last Friday and was making his debut for the Guardians after posting a 5.62 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 24 innings for the Giants. He now has a 6.33 ERA and 2.00 WHIP for the campaign. Howard replaced Logan Allen, who was sent down to Triple-A, in the Guardians' rotation, but with the All-Star break looming, it remains to be seen how the club fills out their rotation to begin the second half.
Howard is listed as the Guardians' scheduled starter for Thursday's game against the Tigers in Detroit.
For what will be his Guardians debut, Howard will step into the rotation spot vacated by Logan Allen, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Prior to being acquired from the Giants last Friday, Howard had accrued a 5.63 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB across 24 innings in seven appearances (two starts) at the big-league level.
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Guardians' Spencer Howard: Traded to Cleveland
Rotowire
The Guardians acquired Howard from the Giants on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
The right-hander had been designated for assignment by the Giants after holding a 5.63 ERA over seven appearances -- including two starts -- in 2024. Howard doesn't have any minor-league options left, so he will go directly onto the Guardians' 26-man active roster and will presumably work in a long-relief role.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: DFA'd by San Francisco
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The Giants designated Howard for assignment Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The right-hander surrendered six runs over 2.2 innings Saturday against the Dodgers and has now lost his place on the Giants' 26-man active roster and 40-man roster. Howard has struggled to a 5.63 ERA and 21:11 K:BB over 24 frames in the big leagues this season.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Struggles versus Dodgers
Rotowire
Howard allowed six runs on six hits and two walks while failing to record a strikeout over 2.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
Howard followed opener Erik Miller, though the Giants had the former enter the game in the second inning instead of waiting until the middle of the contest as they had in his previous two outings. Howard's had mixed results at best, with Saturday being his worst appearance of the campaign. He's at a 5.63 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB through 24 innings across seven outings (two starts). With Kyle Harrison (ankle) likely back next week and Blake Snell (groin) returning around mid-July, Howard's running out of time to make a positive impression. His chance of remaining a de facto member of the rotation will get slimmer if Hayden Birdsong turns in a strong performance in Atlanta on Tuesday.
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Giants' Spencer Howard: Picks up win
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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
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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: Set for bulk-relief role Monday
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Howard is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Erik Miller in Monday's game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The Giants will go back to the well with Howard as their de facto No. 5 starter for another turn through the rotation while the team awaits Keaton Winn's (forearm) return from the injured list. After being called up from Triple-A Sacramento last Tuesday, Howard worked behind Miller and struck out four over four scoreless innings while taking a no-decision against the Phillies. Though he was effective in his Giants debut, Howard was less impressive in a larger body of work at Sacramento prior to his promotion (5.90 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 57:17 K:BB in 39.2 innings). Winn could be tracking toward a return from the IL later this week, but with Blake Snell (groin) at risk of landing on the IL after exiting his last start, the Giants might still have a rotation spot available for Howard beyond Monday.
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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.
