San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp is expected to play a significant role in the team's second-half performance, with manager Tony Vitello expressing a preference to "let him pitch" and avoid restricting his workload. Roupp, 27, has shown strong form recently, tossing seven shutout innings in a 7-0 victory over the Mariners on Friday, and has pitched seven or more innings in two consecutive starts.
This outing brought Roupp's season total to 104 innings, putting him close to his career high of 106 2/3 innings thrown last season. Vitello indicated that the team plans to continue letting Roupp pitch, even as he approaches his career best. "Try not to get in a fistfight in the dugout any time he comes out of the game," Vitello said regarding his approach to managing Roupp's starts.
Roupp himself expressed a desire to maintain his momentum, stating, "I don’t really like to take breaks. It kind of just messes with my momentum and rhythm. … I feel good to go. I don’t really see anything stopping this."
Despite feeling "a little sluggish" before his recent start due to a break, Roupp has found success by focusing on pounding the strike zone and generating early contact rather than prioritizing strikeouts. This approach has allowed him to pitch deeper into games while limiting runs, a factor that could support a continued higher workload.
Vitello acknowledged Roupp's overall effectiveness throughout the season, noting that some outings saw high pitch counts due to a lack of consistent command. The decision to skip Roupp's previous turn in the rotation before the All-Star break was reportedly more about creating an opportunity for pitcher Carson Whisenhunt than giving Roupp a rest.
With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, the potential departures of pitchers Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle could further solidify Roupp's importance in the Giants' rotation. Roupp spent his break with teammate Casey Schmitt, engaging in light activity like playing catch, which he suggested may have ultimately been beneficial despite his preference for continuous pitching.