Menez has pitched well, but lefty gets optioned

Giants relievers are learning the hard way that they can throw lights out and still find themselves heading back to Sacramento because of the daily needs of the team.

The latest to learn was lefthander Conner Menez, who was optioned with righthander Rico Garcia ahead of Wednesday night’s series and roadtrip finale against Houston.

Their spots were filled by Trevor Cahill, whose contract was selected from the alternate camp so he could start Wednesday, and Dereck Rodriguez, who was recalled from Sacramento.

Menez has given the Giants a good seven games, with a 2.38 ERA in 111⁄3 innings. But he also pitched 22⁄3 innings in Monday night’s 64 loss to the Astros. With Cahill not expected to throw beyond 50 pitches in his Giants debut, the club thought it needed another pitcher who could provide length. He threw 55 pitches, but got only five outs.

“The message to Conner is, ‘There’s not much you can be doing differently.’ ” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He’s doing a great job. It’s more about getting an arm who can give us length today, and it’s not going to hurt (Menez) to give him a blow so he can come back stronger.”

The moves help balance a bullpen that remains leftheavy. Rodriguez joins Tyler Rogers, Trevor Gott and Shaun Anderson from the right side. Those four will work alongside five lefties: Tony Watson, Caleb Baragar, Jarlin Garcia, Wandy Peralta and Sam Selman.

Kapler noted the need for another righthanded arm to face a rightheavy Houston lineup Wednesday night, and that his lefthanders tend not to be oneside specialists. They can get righthanders out as well.

“It’s not perfect, but there are enough weapons to mix and match for today’s game,” Kapler said.

Rodriguez, who allowed one run in 21⁄3 innings Wednesday, had a 5.64 ERA in 28 games as a swingman in 2019, coming off his excellent rookie season. Kapler said he impressed during a bullpen session while on the taxi squad in Los Angeles, with his velocity up to 9294 mph.

Garcia has not been effective, with a 7.50 ERA in nine appearances.

To clear a spot on the 40man roster for Cahill, the reliever Andrew Triggs was designated for assignment.

Briefly: Donovan Solano, who’s 27for59 (.458), missed his second consecutive start with an abdominal injury. Kapler said the club is being “very cautious” with Solano . ... Also from Kapler’s pregame Zoom: Lefthander Drew Smyly has begun throwing changeups as he recovers from a left index finger sprain. That finger does not bear much load on a circle change.