Matt Wilkinson selected to Giants' roster, listed as probable starter Wednesday

The San Francisco Giants selected left-hander Matt Wilkinson to the Major League roster Tuesday and listed him as the probable starter for Wednesday's game at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Guardians, the club announced.

The move is part of a four-transaction shuffle that also saw left-hander Philip Abner claimed off waivers from Arizona and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, left-hander Reiver Sanmartin optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, and catcher Daniel Susac and outfielder Harrison Bader transferred to the 60-day Injured List.

What happened

Wilkinson, who will wear number 71, was added to the 26-man active roster and immediately slotted into the rotation. The club announced him as the probable pitcher for Wednesday's series opener in Cleveland, opposite right-hander Parker Messick.

To create space on the 40-man roster, the Giants transferred Susac and Bader to the 60-day Injured List. Both moves remove the players from the 40-man count while they remain sidelined.

The club also claimed Abner off waivers from the Diamondbacks and optioned him directly to Triple-A Sacramento without appearing on the active roster. Sanmartin was optioned to the same affiliate in a corresponding move.

Why it matters

The Giants are filling a rotation spot with an arm from outside the organization in the final weeks of a season that has long since slipped away. At 59-85, the club sits 27.5 games behind in the National League West and 17.0 games out of the Wild Card cut line, eliminated from the division race and playing out the schedule.

Wilkinson's selection gives the Giants a fresh look in a rotation that has cycled through options all summer. The club has Landen Roupp scheduled for Thursday's series finale in Cleveland and Logan Webb lined up for Friday's opener at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, but the depth chart beyond that trio remains fluid.

The waiver claim of Abner adds another left-handed arm to the organizational depth at Triple-A, though he was not needed immediately on the active roster. Sanmartin's option clears a spot on the 26-man roster for Wilkinson while keeping the left-hander in the organization at Sacramento.

The transfers of Susac and Bader to the 60-day Injured List formalize extended absences for both players. Susac, a catcher, and Bader, an outfielder, had been on the Injured List already; the 60-day designation removes them from the 40-man roster and opens the necessary space for Wilkinson and Abner without requiring the club to designate anyone for assignment.

Where the club stands

The Giants entered Tuesday with a 59-85 record, fourth in the National League West and riding a one-game losing streak. The club is 27.5 games behind the division leader and ranks 11th in the Wild Card standings, 17.0 games out of the final playoff spot.

The schedule ahead offers little relief. After two games in Cleveland, the Giants head to Boston for a three-game set at Fenway Park beginning Friday. Webb, the club's most reliable starter, is scheduled to open that series against Sonny Gray.

The Giants are playing out a season that has been decided for weeks. Eliminated from the division race and with no realistic path to the Wild Card, the club is using the final month to evaluate arms like Wilkinson and cycle through options that might factor into next year's plans.

The rotation has been a revolving door since mid-summer, with injuries and ineffectiveness forcing the front office to reach into the upper minors and, now, outside the organization entirely. Wilkinson's appearance Wednesday will be the latest audition in a season full of them.

The waiver claim of Abner and the option of Sanmartin are the kind of low-cost, low-risk moves that define the final weeks of a lost season, when the 40-man roster becomes a laboratory and the active roster a showcase for players who might otherwise never get a look.

What we don't know yet

The club did not announce the nature or severity of the injuries that led to Susac and Bader being transferred to the 60-day Injured List, nor did it provide a timetable for either player's return. The 60-day designation means neither will be eligible to return until mid-October at the earliest, well after the Giants' season ends.

Wilkinson's background and recent performance were not detailed in the announcement. The club did not say whether he had been pitching in the minors, rehabbing from an injury, or working his way back from a layoff. His selection suggests the Giants believe he can provide innings in the final weeks, but the specifics of his readiness and recent workload remain unclear.

Abner's waiver claim from Arizona was not accompanied by any explanation of why the Diamondbacks placed him on waivers or what role the Giants envision for him at Triple-A Sacramento. The left-hander was optioned immediately, so he will not appear on the active roster in the near term, but the claim suggests the Giants see something worth developing or at least worth keeping in the organization through the end of the season.

Sanmartin's option to Sacramento was similarly unexplained. The left-hander had been on the active roster, but the club did not say whether he had been pitching poorly, dealing with an injury, or simply squeezed out by the need to add Wilkinson. His option keeps him in the organization and available for a recall if needed.

What to watch

Wilkinson is listed as the probable starter for Wednesday's game at Progressive Field. His appearance will be his first chance to show what he can do at the Major League level and whether he merits further consideration as the club builds its pitching depth for next year.

The Giants have two more games in Cleveland before heading to Boston for a weekend series. Roupp is scheduled to start Thursday's series finale against Gavin Williams, and Webb will take the ball Friday at Fenway Park against Gray. The rotation beyond that remains unsettled, and Wilkinson's performance Wednesday could determine whether he gets another turn or whether the club continues to shuffle arms in and out of the active roster.

Abner's arrival at Triple-A Sacramento adds another left-handed option to the organizational depth chart. If he pitches well in the final weeks, he could be in the mix for a September call-up or a spring-training invitation next year. If not, the waiver claim will have cost the Giants nothing but a 40-man roster spot and a few weeks of evaluation.

Sanmartin's option to Sacramento keeps him close enough to recall if the Giants need another left-hander in the bullpen or rotation. The club has shown a willingness to shuttle pitchers between San Francisco and Sacramento all season, and Sanmartin could be back on the active roster within days if the need arises.

The transfers of Susac and Bader to the 60-day Injured List close the book on their 2026 seasons. Both players will spend the final weeks rehabbing and preparing for next year, while the Giants use the roster space to audition players like Wilkinson who might factor into the club's plans going forward.