SF Giants’ Jordan Hicks hit hard in final start of first half

SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants signed Jordan Hicks, the big question was obvious: How would Hicks hold up as a full-time starter? With his final outing of the first half in the books, San Francisco possesses half-a-season’s worth of data to examine — data that could suggest a shift in Hicks’ role moving forward.

In his final start before the All-Star Break, Hicks allowed five earned runs across 4 1/3 innings, including two home runs. With former Giant Kevin Gausman tossing seven innings of two-run ball in his return to San Francisco, the Giants fell to the Blue Jays, 5-3 on Thursday afternoon at Oracle Park.

“He’s at a point now where he’s battling,” said manager Bob Melvin. “Hopefully, once we get to the break, it will give him a nice little respite he hasn’t had this year.”

On the surface, Hicks had a fine first half given he hasn’t been a full-time starter since his days in the Cardinals’ minor-league system seven years ago, logging a 3.79 ERA. Thursday was the right-hander’s 19 start of the season and pushed his total of innings pitched to 95 — well exceeding his previous career high of 77 2/3 innings in 2018. Hicks, though, was a different pitcher after the season’s first month.

In March and April, Hicks had a 1.59 ERA over 34 innings. His ERA is 5.02 over 61 innings since the calendar turned to May. Hicks pitched at least six innings three times in April but has yet to do so since.

“I’d say the first half of the first half felt really good,” Hicks said. “(My) body felt great. Then, in the second half of the first half, it’s been a slow decline overall. … I don’t know how to say this without making it sound like an excuse — I just haven’t really had it.”

Hicks’ struggles have coincided with declining velocity. In April, his average sinker clocked in at 95.6 mph with opponents posting a batting average of .238 against the pitch. In June, his average sinker velocity was down to 93.8 mph and opponent batting average was up to .462. His average sinker speed was 92.2 mph against the Blue Jays.

“I feel healthy, but that’s not the thing I’m worried about. It’s just more about overall fatigue,” Hicks said. “I wake up and I’m fine. Get to the start of the game, I feel great. That toll on the body as the third inning creeps around. So, (I’ll) find a way and we’ll develop a plan over the next week or two.”

Hicks will likely remain in the rotation to begin the second half. But with Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb getting closer to coming off the Injured List to join Logan Webb, Blake Snell and Kyle Harrison in the rotation, the Giants will have to decide whether they keep Hicks in the rotation or move him into the bullpen.

“Once we get there, we’ll probably have an idea, but as of right now, we know he’s going to have to start until then,” Melvin said. “We signed him as a starter. Obviously, you have to look at the innings at some point in time. I give him credit; he takes the ball every fifth day and goes out there for us and tries to give us as much as he can.”

With the All-Star Break approaching, Hicks will get at least a week off before making his next start, one he hopes goes better than his afternoon against the Blue Jays.

Toronto tagged Hicks for three runs in the first inning, capped by Danny Jansen’s solo home run. After Heliot Ramos hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 3-2, Hicks faced the minimum in the second and third, then retired the first two batters in the fourth. On the verge of a third straight scoreless inning, Toronto scored another run on three straight singles. In the fifth, Spencer Horwitz sent Hicks’ sweeper into McCovey Cove on the bounce, extending Toronto’s lead to 5-2. On his 88th pitch of the day, Hicks plunked Justin Turner and his afternoon was over.