Hayden Birdsong will pitch in Sunday's game against the Reds.

Fantasy Impact

Birdsong will appear in the game after Logan Webb starts. He could be in competition for the final spot in the Giants starting rotation.

Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong is a candidate to land the fifth spot in the club's rotation this spring.

Fantasy Impact

It is seemingly a two-man battle between Birdsong and left-hander Kyle Harrison for who will follow Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, and Jordan Hicks in the starting rotation. The 23-year-old posted a 4.75 ERA in 16 starts last season, and while his 27.9% K% was impressive, he also posted an elevated 13.7% walk rate, leading to a mediocre 14.3% K-BB% that is interestingly identical to the mark Harrison posted a season ago.

Hayden Birdsong earned the win Monday, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings as the Giants topped the Diamondbacks 6-3.

Fantasy Impact

This performance, while not dominant, was effective enough to secure his sixth win of the season. Despite a rocky 4.66 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP coming into the game, Birdsong's ability to maintain a solid 10.2 K/9 ratio continues to make him a valuable asset in strikeout-heavy fantasy formats. However, his high FIP of 4.85 suggests that some caution is warranted, as he may be prone to rough outings. Fantasy managers should consider him a risky, yet potentially rewarding, option depending on the matchup.

Hayden Birdsong earned a win Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings against the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact

Despite the win, Birdsong's performance was hardly dominant, continuing a trend of middling outings that have characterized his season. With a 4.74 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP through 15 starts, his reliability as a fantasy option remains questionable. His decent strikeout rate (10.2 K/9) still offers some appeal in formats that reward strikeouts heavily, but his high FIP (5.03) and low strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.87) suggest potential volatility. Fantasy managers should consider Birdsong a risky play, best suited for matchups against weaker lineups or as a streaming option in deeper leagues.

Hayden Birdsong delivered a strong performance, allowing no earned runs on just two hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact

Despite Birdsong's solid outing, his season stats — a 4.74 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP — suggest inconsistency. However, his 10.7 K/9 indicates his ability to rack up strikeouts, which remains a silver lining for fantasy managers. Given his high FIP of 5.12, fantasy managers should be cautious, as his surface stats might not fully reflect the underlying performance risks. Birdsong's outing was a bright spot, but his season-long volatility makes him a risky play in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues.