Giants place starter Tyler Mahle on injured list

The San Francisco Giants announced they’ve placed starter Tyler Mahle on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The placement, which is retroactive to May 27, opens a spot on the pitching staff for Logan Webb. He returns from the IL to start Friday night’s game at Coors Field. San Francisco also activated Jung Hoo Lee from the 10-day IL after optioning fellow outfielder Will Brennan to Triple-A Sacramento last night.

Mahle has had a frustrating year as a $10M free-agent signee. He only has one quality start in his first 11 outings. Mahle has allowed more than six earned runs per nine and has been hit hard in each of his last four times out. He’s striking hitters out at a decent 23% clip, but that belies a modest 8% swinging strike rate. The righty has also given up 11 home runs, a top- 10 mark in the National League.

It’s unclear how long Mahle will be sidelined. The injury defers what might’ve been a decision for skipper Tony Vitello on how to handle the starting five. Trevor McDonald has pitched well at the back of the rotation, meaning Mahle and fellow offseason pickup Adrian Houser seemed the better candidates to drop their rotation spot once Webb made it back to the mound.

Webb missed just under three weeks with bursitis in his right knee. Lee, meanwhile, had a minimal stay due to a back strain. He’s in right field tonight against Colorado righty Michael Lorenzen. Rookie outfielder Victor Bericoto was called up when Lee went on the shelf. He’ll stick on the big league roster as a righty-hitting bench bat while the left-handed Brennan goes back to the minors.