Webb reaches 200 innings, hits high note at end of Giants’ season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
PHOENIX — There never is any doubt about the number that’s front and center for Logan Webb when he takes the ball for the first time every season. But on Tuesday night, after reaching 200 innings for a second straight year, the Giants ace provided an important clarification.
“It’s 200 innings of quality innings,” he pointed out.
That hasn’t always been the case during the 2024 MLB season, particularly lately, but Webb finished up — probably — with six shutout innings against a good Arizona Diamondbacks lineup Tuesday night, picking up his 13th win in easy fashion when the lineup backed him with five homers.
After the 11-0 victory, Webb hinted that his sixth big league season is over. The Giants have just four games left, and while Webb could come back on normal rest Sunday, that start currently looks like it belongs to Hayden Birdsong.
Assuming this is it, Webb finished with his best start in about five weeks. He allowed 15 runs in four previous September starts, but the Diamondbacks had just four hits in Webb’s six innings.
“I really needed that one, to be honest,” Webb said. “I feel good finishing with that.”
Webb lowered his ERA to 3.47, which ranks 10th in the National League. His FIP is his lowest since 2021, and he’ll finish as a four-WAR player for the fourth consecutive season. He is ticking off one strong campaign after another, although this year was rockier at times than he expected it to be. His trademark changeup wasn’t always there, but he adjusted mid-season, adding a cutter that he threw 20 times Tuesday.
“It’s just something I’ve kind of felt comfortable with. I think the changeup has been weird all year, and I think [the cutter] just helps with getting them off some of the softer stuff down,” he said. “I’ve tried to throw one for a while now and I finally found a grip that makes the ball actually go that way, so I’m excited to keep tinkering with it. These last two games I felt good throwing it.
“It felt like I threw a lot, to be honest. [Giants catcher Patrick Bailey] kept calling it. If Patty is calling them, he must have confidence in what I was doing.”
The pitch should be a bigger part of his repertoire next season, and perhaps Webb will have another edge, one that Matt Chapman has learned about in recent days. Webb’s wife, Sharidan, is due to give birth to their first child any day now, and that’s the focus as the Giants finish…