In this episode of Thompson 2 Clark — the San Francisco Giants podcast on BSPN — Brad Evans and Garrett Gonzales start with a surprise reunion: the Giants claimed closer Camilo Doval off waivers from the Pirates on Wednesday, just two days after Pittsburgh designated him for assignment. Doval spent his first four-plus big-league seasons in San Francisco before being traded away, and he's posted a 4.30 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 58.2 innings between the Yankees and Pirates this season — so he's likely ticketed for middle relief down the stretch rather than his old closer role. Blade Tidwell was transferred to the 60-day IL in the corresponding roster move.
They also welcome some fresh faces to the big leagues: Marcelo Mayer made his organizational debut as the DH and Bo Davidson got his first big-league callup in right field, both activated Monday as the Giants' season winds down. It's a bittersweet swap, with the promotions coming as Bryce Eldridge and Jung Hoo Lee's seasons appear to be over.
They also dig into the Giants' brutal run of arm injuries: Tidwell has been diagnosed with a high-grade UCL sprain and recommended for Tommy John surgery, which would make him the fourth Giants starter lost to elbow reconstruction this year, joining Hayden Birdsong, Trevor McDonald and Carson Whisenhunt — plus reliever Randy Rodríguez. No team in baseball has had more Tommy John surgeries in 2026, and Brad and Garrett try to make sense of what's driving it and what the Giants can do differently.
To close it out, they give their thoughts on the MLB playoff races with just days left in the regular season — the Rays, Guardians, Brewers and Dodgers have clinched, the AL West could crown a sub-.500 division winner for the first time ever, and the Cubs, Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks are scrapping for the final NL wild card spots.
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