The San Francisco Giants entered the season with so many starting pitchers that it wasn't clear how they'd fit them all. At the season's halfway point, however, the Giants really only have two starting pitchers they could truly rely upon. Logan Webb and Alex Cobb put together All-Star-worthy first halves (even though Webb was snubbed from the All-Star game ... again). But newcomers Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling struggled mightily out of the gates, and Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood were inconsistent.

The SF Giants' "bullpen" was extremely non-traditional. Camilo Doval was ultra reliable at the back end, and Tyler and Taylor Rogers also provided strong performances in a traditional role, but pretty much everyone else was either inconsistent, injured, or unorthodox. Manaea improved mightily when used out of the 'pen, and is making a strong case to move back into the starting rotation. Tristan Beck was strong in a bulk innings role. Scott Alexander, John Brebbia, and Luke Jackson were good when healthy.

Projecting forward, it's anyone's guess as to how things will play out for the Giants. We know Webb and Cobb will anchor the rotation as long as they're healthy, but it's unclear who exactly will claim the remaining spots or whether the SF Giants will continue to rely heavily on bullpen games, which was largely a successful strategy in the first half. It's also worth keeping an eye on young players like Keaton Winn, Kyle Harrison, Carson Whisenhunt, and Mason Black to see if they get an opportunity and make an impact for the Giants in the second half—and hopefully in the playoffs.

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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

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