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After being forced to move Jordan Hicks to the bullpen in late July last season, the San Francisco Giants were encouraged by the right-hander’s performance on Monday in his return to the rotation.

Hicks worked six scoreless innings in the Giants’ 7-2 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game interleague series. He made 20 starts for San Francisco before tiring and landing in the bullpen.

Right-hander Logan Webb (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will start for the Giants on Tuesday against the Astros.

The Giants inserted Hicks back into the rotation to start this campaign, and his season debut went off without a hitch, giving rise to the hope that he can stick this time.

“It just looked like he was on it from the very beginning,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “The velo was there, the breaking ball was there (and) there were balls on the ground. That’s what you look for from him.

“It’s one of the things that he’s figuring out now: go as hard as you can as long as you can. That’s what he’s been successful in doing (as a reliever) in the past. Just make sure you’re conditioned to pitch deeper into games.”

Webb allowed three runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings but did not factor into the decision of a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day.

Webb split his final four decisions last season, going 2-2 with a 5.00 ERA over five starts in September.

Webb is 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four career starts against the Astros. He claimed a 5-3 win over the Astros on June 12, 2024, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

Right-hander Hayden Wesneski (3-6, 3.86 ERA with the Chicago Cubs in 2024) will make his Astros debut on Tuesday.

A Houston native, Wesneski was part of a four-player trade with Chicago in exchange for three-time All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker. In 28 appearances (seven starts) with the Cubs last season, Wesneski allowed a .215 opponent batting average and a 1.14 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 67? innings.

Wesneski is 0-2 with a 10.22 ERA over five career appearances (two starts) against the Giants. In his lone start against San Francisco last season, he allowed three runs on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over four innings but did not factor into the decision of a 4-3 loss.

The ballyhoo surrounding Astros rookie Cam Smith was linked primarily to his bat, which tantalized during spring training. However, when Houston acquired third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Cubs in the same offseason trade that landed Smith, it facilitated the need to shift Smith from his natural position to right field.

The Astros are keeping a close eye on Smith and his adjustment defensively. In the series opener against the Giants, he ran down a fly ball off the bat of LaMonte Wade Jr. for the second out in the third inning and had his first assist opportunity two innings later when Wade sent another fly ball in his direction.
Smith sent his throw home a bit up the third-base line and was unable to erase Mike Yastrzemski at the plate, resulting in a sacrifice fly for Wade.

“I think the throw was what caught my eye because we haven’t had an opportunity to do that,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “His jumps have been pretty good. I thought the game was slower for him. He really got under the ball. It’s almost like he’s getting more comfortable.”

-Field Level Media