Blade Tidwell Makes Strong Impression Once Again as Giants Starter

As the San Francisco Giants look to the future after the MLB Trade Deadline, their front office may have found something special in one of their young pitchers. Blade Tidwell, new to the team this season, continues to show why he might be a big piece in this rebuild.

Tidwell began the season in the bullpen, spending the first full month of 2026 with the franchise before being sent down to Triple-A. Following the loss of Robbie Ray at the trade deadline, the Giants were in need of another starter in the rotation, and Tidwell got the call.

Before returning to the majors, Tidwell posted a 4.38 ERA in 16 games, 15 games as a starter, with a 1.46 WHIP in 72 innings pitched; so, not the best but not bad whatsoever. But the casual fan wouldn't know that if they turned on the Giants game Monday night against the Houston Astros.

Tidwell's Strong Outing vs Houston

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell (46) poses during Photo Day. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In his fourth career start, second of the season for San Francisco, Tidwell kept the Giants in the game against the Astros, pitching 5.2 innings, surrendering just one run on four hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.

The outing showcased how dominant Tidwell's sweeper was. Out of 22 pitches, he generated 12 swings and misses. Additionally, his fastball had a top speed of 98.3 mph, causing the Houston hitters to look off balance at the plate all night.

Thanks to a home run from Jung Hoo Lee, who nearly secured a Splash Hit into McCovey Cove, Tidwell's first inning run went for naught. If he continues to pitch like that in the majors, especially if he proves his sweeper is his put-away pitch against right-handed hitters, he could be a mainstay for years to come.

Recapping Giants vs Astros

Behind Tidwell's day on the mound, the Giants' offense was led by Lee and fellow outfielder Drew Gilbert. San Francisco tied the game on a Gilbert bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Lee would homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Giants the lead, but Houston tied the game again in the top of the seventh thanks to a solo home run from Cam Smith off reliever JT Brubaker. But in the bottom of the inning, Gilbert took matters into his own hands.

After just missing a home run on his sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth, Gilbert gave the Giants the lead with a 407-foot solo shot into the night. Not to mention his impressive defensive play to run down a ball in the gap with the tying run on first in the bottom of the ninth inning.

But ultimately, Dylan Smith was unable to keep the Astros from scoring in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the game to the bottom of the inning with the chance for the Giants to walk off Houston.

After a failed bottom of the ninth, Jason Foley took the mound for the Giants and struggled with his command. Houston took advantage, scoring three runs against Foley, taking the lead to 6-3. That's how it would end, as San Francisco drops to 49-70.

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