Hayden Birdsong

Fantasy News

• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Struggles in Cactus League opener

  Rotowire Feb 22, 2026

  Birdsong allowed five earned runs on three hits, including a home run, and two walks across one-third of an inning during Saturday's 10-5 Cactus League win over the Mariners. Birdsong started Saturday's matchup and immediately surrendered two singles and a walk before giving up a grand slam to Miles Mastrobuoni. After opening the 2025 campaign as a reliever and joining the rotation in mid-May, Birdsong was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in July and never returned to the majors. The right-hander is expected to compete for a bullpen spot on the Opening Day roster.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Working on mechanics this offseason

  Rotowire Jan 26, 2026

  Birdsong has been working on staying more upright with his delivery this offseason as he looks to improve his command, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. In his first 16 appearances (five starts) last season, Birdsong collected a 2.79 ERA and 51:19 K:BB over 48.1 innings. He then posted a 10.38 ERA and 17:18 K:BB over his next five outings, got optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and never returned to the majors. Birdsong believes he was "over-bending," which made his arm slot rise and the movement on his pitches get out of whack. The 24-year-old is pleased with his mechanical work over the winter, and he's also tentatively planning to pitch exclusively from the stretch in 2026 after he used a windup in 2025 for the first time since college. There's currently not room for Birdsong in the Giants' rotation, and he's had trouble throwing strikes both in the majors (13.1 percent walk rate) and minors (11.3 percent walk rate). However, with a 25.4 percent strikeout rate in the majors and 32.3 percent strikeout rate in the minors, Birdsong could still have upside if he's able to get his walk rate to an acceptable level.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Sent down after disastrous start

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2025

  The Giants optioned Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The transaction comes one day after Birdsong failed to record an out while allowing five runs on one hit and four walks in a loss to Atlanta. The disastrous outing was more than just a one-start blip for the righty, as Birdsong had collected a 10.38 ERA and 17:18 K:BB across 17.1 innings covering his last five outings. Carson Seymour has been recalled from Sacramento and could take Birdsong's spot in the rotation, with Mason Black and Carson Whisenhunt also representing options.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Fails to record an out Monday

  Rotowire Jul 21, 2025

  Birdsong (4-4) suffered the loss Monday at Atlanta, allowing five runs on one hit, four walks and a hit-by-pitch while not retiring any of the six batters he faced. This was a disastrous outing for the 23-year-old, as he completely lost his sense of the strike zone, firing just six strikes out of 25 total pitches. Entering this contest, Birdsong has issued four or more free passes in each of his previous three appearances, over which he produced a 7.62 ERA across 13 innings. This poor performance ballooned Birdsong's ERA from 4.11 to 4.80 over 65.2 total innings. The Giants had already skipped a rotation turn for the young right-hander prior to the All-Star break, as his last start came July 6, signaling the team was already considering a relief role for him. Birdsong is currently scheduled to make his next start against the Mets at home this weekend, but it would not be surprising to see the Giants either move him to the bullpen or demote him following this calamitous performance.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Won't get start this week

  Rotowire Jul 9, 2025

  Birdsong isn't scheduled to make a start during the Giants' three-game series with the Dodgers this weekend, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The Giants will take advantage of an off day Thursday to realign their rotation, resulting in Birdsong's turn being skipped while Landen Roupp and Robbie Ray both make their second starts of the week Saturday and Sunday, respectively. According to Rubin, manager Bob Melvin said that Birdsong will be available out of the bullpen for the series against Los Angeles before slotting back into the rotation following the All-Star break. Since moving into the San Francisco rotation May 20, Birdsong has gone 3-3 with a 5.10 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 43:23 K:BB in 42.1 innings over his nine starts.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Loses again Tuesday

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2025

  Birdsong (3-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out six over four innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Diamondbacks. Birdsong has failed to complete five innings in four of his last five outings. He's also walked four or more batters in three of those starts, and he hasn't pitched well enough to limit the damage when his control is off. He's fortunate to have just two losses in that stretch, but he's looking a bit outmatched as a starter at this point in the year. Birdsong has a 4.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 62:28 K:BB through 60.2 innings across 19 appearances (eight starts) overall, but his ERA as a starter is at a less pleasant 5.54 through 37.1 frames. He is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Athletics this weekend.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Logs quality start in Colorado

  Rotowire Jun 12, 2025

  Birdsong allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Rockies. He struck out six. It was a solid bounce-back effort from Birdsong, who issued five walks in just 4.1 innings during his last outing versus Atlanta. The 23-year-old right-hander held the Rockies to just a pair of fourth-inning runs while posting his first quality start this season. Overall, Birdsong is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB across 48.1 innings this year. He's currently lined up to face the Guardians at home in his next outing.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Strikes out five in win

  Rotowire Jun 1, 2025

  Birdsong (3-1) earned the win against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Birdsong cruised through five innings but hit a wall in the sixth, surrendering three straight hits and a run before exiting at 88 pitches. The 23-year-old has trimmed his BB/9 from 5.38 last season to 2.84 and has now yielded just four earned runs across his first three starts this year. He'll carry a 2.37 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB over 38 innings into a home matchup with Atlanta next weekend.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Strikes out six in defeat

  Rotowire May 26, 2025

  Birdsong (2-1) took the loss and surrendered three runs and five hits in 4.1 innings of work during Monday's 3-1 loss to the Tigers. He walked two and struck out six. Birdsong made 11 appearances in relief to start the season, but the Giants have attempted to stretch him out to a starter's workload mid-season. His second start wasn't quite as sharp as his first when he went five scoreless, but he kept the Giants in the game and set a new benchmark in strikeouts this season with six. Over the last 14.1 innings, the 23-year-old has struck out 16 batters, a 10.2 K/9 rate.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Joining rotation

  Rotowire May 17, 2025

  Manager Bob Melvin announced Saturday that Birdsong will replace Jordan Hicks in the Giants' rotation, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Birdsong lost the race for a rotation spot during spring training, but his 2.31 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 23.1 innings out of the bullpen, combined with Hicks' struggles as a starter, will cause the two pitchers to swap roles. Birdsong's first start of the season will come Tuesday against the Royals, who own the fourth-lowest scoring offense (157 runs) and sixth-worst OPS (.662) in the majors.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Logs season-high three earned runs

  Rotowire May 15, 2025

  Birdsong allowed three earned runs on four hits (two home runs) and two walks while striking out three across three innings of relief in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Diamondbacks. He also hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch. The 23-year-old entered the game for Jordan Hicks with no outs and two runners on base in the third inning. Birdsong surrendered a three-run homer to the first batter he faced and later gave up a two-run shot in the fourth. The right-hander struggled with his control, throwing 34 of his 65 pitches for strikes while generating nine whiffs. Over his last five appearances, Birdsong has recorded a 3.48 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 12:4 K:BB, allowing three home runs across 10.1 innings.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Struggles in defeat

  Rotowire May 6, 2025

  Birdsong was charged with five runs (one earned) on two walks and two hits over one-third of an inning during Monday's 9-2 loss to the Cubs. Birdsong entered the game in the sixth frame with the Giants trailing 4-2. The 23-year-old gave up his second home run of the season to the first batter he faced and issued two free passes for the second time in the 2025 campaign. However, San Francisco also committed two of its four errors while Birdsong was on the mound. The right-hander has now allowed three earned runs this season, recording a 1.47 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 19:8 K:BB over 18.1 innings in nine appearances.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Fans five in scoreless outing

  Rotowire Apr 28, 2025

  Birdsong threw three scoreless innings during Sunday's 3-2 win over the Rangers, allowing three hits while striking out five. Birdsong entered the game in the sixth frame, surrendering a triple to the first batter he faced. However, he settled in and retired the next three hitters. The 23-year-old also allowed a double and a single over his three innings but racked up a season-high five strikeouts. Birdsong owns a 1.13 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and an 18:6 K:BB across 16.0 innings in seven games. The right-hander has been impressive to start the 2025 campaign and will likely continue to serve in a long-relief role.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Still unscored upon

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2025

  Birdsong picked up a hold during Sunday's 5-4 win over the Yankees, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out three and hitting one batter. The 23-year-old entered the game in the sixth frame and retired all three batters he faced. The right-hander later hit Aaron Judge with a pitch in the seventh but escaped the inning without allowing a hit. Birdsong was efficient, facing seven batters and throwing 15 of his 20 pitches for strikes. After falling short in his bid for a spot in the Giants' Opening Day rotation, Birdsong has been dynamite in relief, having yet to allow a run while posting an 0.89 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB with three holds across nine innings over four appearances. The Giants don't seem motivated to have Birdsong get stretched back out for a starting role anytime soon, as manager Bob Melvin told Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News on April 5 that the right-hander is being treated as a true reliever at this point after San Francisco chose not to have him piggyback No. 5 starter Landen Roupp in his first start earlier this month.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Starting season in bullpen

  Rotowire Mar 24, 2025

  Birdsong will serve out of the Giants' bullpen for the start of the 2025 season after Landen Roupp was named as the fifth starter Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Birdsong and Roupp were the final two candidates for the Giants' fifth-starter spot after Kyle Harrison was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Birdsong recorded a 0.75 ERA across 12 Cactus League innings this spring, but he'll begin the 2025 regular season in the bullpen, possibly in a long reliever role.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: OK after fingernail issue

  Rotowire Mar 24, 2025

  Birdsong is expected to be fine after dealing with a cracked right middle fingernail during an appearance Sunday in an exhibition game versus Triple-A Sacramento, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Birdsong noted that it's something he battles with a lot and he expects to be fine after getting a fake fingernail put on the finger. The right-hander has made the Giants' Opening Day roster and is the team's presumed fifth starter, although the club has not yet confirmed what Birdsong's role will be.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Still in mix for fifth-starter role

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2025

  Birdsong remains neck-and-neck with Landen Roupp for the fifth-starter role, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Birdsong and Roupp are the final candidates for the fifth-starter spot after the Giants optioned Kyle Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento. Birdsong has made four appearances during Cactus League play, recording a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 frames. The 23-year-old made 16 starts for San Francisco during the 2024 campaign, registering a 4.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB over 72 innings. The Giants will likely take a look at both candidates during Sunday's tune-up game against Triple-A Sacramento, which may help decide who wins the final starting spot.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Generating buzz in rotation bid

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2025

  Birdsong struck out eight over five scoreless innings against the A's on Sunday and now has a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 Cactus League innings this spring. The 23-year-old right-hander is making quite the case for the No. 5 spot in the San Francisco rotation, though manager Bob Melvin stressed after Sunday's exhibition that "to this point, nothing's been decided," per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Landen Roupp was seen as the frontrunner for the fifth-starter role earlier in spring training, and lefty Kyle Harrison remains in the mix as well in what Guardado described as the "fiercest competition in Giants camp." However, Birdsong might have the most upside for the Giants, and he is arguably the most interesting of the bunch from a fantasy perspective.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: Collects fifth win

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2024

  Birdsong (5-5) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Monday. Birdsong has followed up a seven-start winless stretch with back-to-back victories. The rookie right-hander has allowed seven runs over 18.2 innings across four starts in September. He's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 77:40 K:BB through 67.2 innings over 15 starts this season. Birdsong is tentatively projected to make his last start of the regular season at home versus the Cardinals.

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• Giants' Hayden Birdsong: One out short of quality start

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2024

  Birdsong (4-5) earned the win Wednesday against Baltimore, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out three. Birdsong fell just shy of his second quality start of 2024, as he got pulled in favor of Erik Miller after giving up a single to Colton Cowser in the sixth inning. Miller immediately yielded a double to Ryan O'Hearn, plating Cowser as Birdsong's third earned run. In his last three starts, Birdsong has a 3.29 ERA with an 11:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Diamondbacks in Arizona his next time out.

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