Who could SF Giants call up when rosters expand in September?

SAN FRANCISCO It wasn t too long ago that manager Bob Melvin having been swept by the Padres at home in mid-August mentioned the idea of giving his regulars a few days off and getting looks at younger players With the Giants in the midst of a six-game winning streak those plans are likely on hold On Sept the Giants brass will have to decide which two players they select from Triple-A Sacramento to join the big-league roster as rosters expand from to With San Francisco still mathematically alive president of baseball operations Buster Posey and company may find themselves leaning towards players more equipped to win now Here s a look at the most of compelling candidates to be called up when the rosters expand All stats are entering Friday Marco Luciano The Giants have had plenty of opportunities to call up Marco Luciano over the last couple months especially after having the -year-old transition from infield to outfield in the offseason With less than games remaining Luciano is still waiting for his first opportunity to play in the majors this season Luciano hasn t exactly dominated with Sacramento but he s hit well enough at times to warrant a look with San Francisco Overall Luciano has an OPS with homers and has been nine percent better than league average by weighted runs created plus wRC Since July specifically Luciano is hitting with homers and by wRC has been percent better than league average Luciano would ve likely had a more compelling matter to be called up if Luis Matos was struggling but Matos is -for- with three homers and seven RBIs since being recalled from Sacramento Jesus Rodriguez The Giants received four prospects from the New York Yankees in exchange for Camilo Doval the most of intriguing of the bunch being catcher Jesus Rodriguez Rodriguez didn t have a multitude of opportunities to catch during his time in the Yankees system due to the franchise s plethora of catching prospects but he hit well enough that he played around the diamond so the Yankees could get his bat in the lineup A lifetime hitter in the minors Rodriguez has also spent time at first base second base third base and left field Rodriguez is hitting with one homer and eight RBIs over his last games but it wouldn t be surprising if the Giants keep Rodriguez in Triple-A so he can continue getting reps at catcher Hayden Birdsong For months Hayden Birdsong appeared to have made crucial strides with his control He didn t walk a single batter during spring training then continued to minimize walks for roughly the first three months of the season Then seemingly out of nowhere Birdsong lost his command and ended up back in Triple-A Birdsong s issues with command have persisted with Sacramento He appeared to make strides by only walking four batters over innings during his first three starts with the River Cats By contrast during his last three starts Birdsong has walked batters over innings JT Brubaker The Giants signed JT Brubaker to a minor-league deal in mid-August after he was issued by the Yankees and it s not an outlandish proposition that Brubaker makes a start or two for San Francisco in September Brubaker has pitched in four major-league seasons missing all of due to Tommy John surgery and spending all of in the Yankees minor-league system He s made a pair of starts for Sacramento after being used solely as a reliever for the Yankees allowing two runs over nine innings in those two outings Blade Tidwell Tidwell was part of the return from the New York Mets in exchange for Tyler Rogers the others being right-handed Jos Butt and outfielder Drew Gilbert If not for an injury Tidwell likely would ve already made his Giants debut The -year-old right-hander posted a ERA in his first three starts with Sacramento striking out batters over innings but experienced shoulder discomfort during a bullpen session following his start on Aug President of baseball operations Buster Posey reported on KNBR that Tidwell is moving in the right direction and working on a throwing progression He s obviously a guy we re excited about but we want to make sure that he s from a medical standpoint in a good place and doesn t rush back Posey disclosed It s a big arm and somebody that we re excited to continue to watch as he progresses All signs seem positive there Tidwell features a deep arsenal of pitching the core four being his four-seam fastball sinker sweeper and slider Along with those offerings Tidwell has also flashed a changeup and cutter Bryce Eldridge There s been no shortage of fans clamoring for top prospect Bryce Eldridge to make his major-league debut Those voices continue to grow louder every time Eldridge homers The only voice that matters though is Posey s and he has repeatedly thrown cold water on the possibility of Eldridge making his debut this season I d say bulk likely not Posey noted on KNBR s The Murph and Marcus Show I feel like I ve disclosed it times but Bryce is still He s still getting his reps as a first baseman He s getting his reps as a hitter Like everybody else you watch the amount of power that Bryce has It s hard not to get excited about Talking to Bryce a little bit back in spring training and then listening to how our minor-league staff talks about him we know that he wants to be a complete participant and he s working on that