The Giants will need to make some tough decisions in the coming days. Daniel Susac and Harrison Bader are making strides in their rehab assignments at Triple-A Sacramento, and Logan Webb’s knee discomfort could cause him to miss his next scheduled start.

Webb’s health issue is troubling. He exited his last start after just four innings on the recommendation of trainer Dave Groeschner, whose job is to consider the key pitcher’s long-term health, not any need for a short-term fix for a struggling team.

Webb’s next turn in the rotation would be Monday’s series opener at Dodger Stadium, a splendid venue to get back on track, but the Giants are being cautious with the right-hander and don’t want to put him at further risk. As a result, according to two sources, it’s unlikely Webb will make the Monday assignment.

Time off is an oddity for the 29-year-old workhorse who led the National League in innings pitched the past three years, topped the league in strikeouts in 2026, and entered this season with a career 3.38 ERA. Through eight starts this year, his ERA is 5.06, and his inconsistent season became more of a bummer with the emergence of the knee problem.

While manager Tony Vitello said before Friday night’s 5-2 win over the Pirates that he’d expect Webb to make his next start, he was envisioning the best case scenario. Fact is, it’s more of a medical decision than a baseball decision, no matter how much Webb prefers to stay in turn. Groeschner and his crew know best and aren’t in the business of taking chances with franchise assets.

“If there’s any adjustment at all, it’s eventually going to have to come with his blessing, which is like pulling teeth,” Vitello said. “Let those guys coordinate that in the training room.”

Because of Thursday’s off day, Adrian Houser could pitch Monday on normal four days’ rest; he’s coming off his best start as a Giant (six innings with just one earned run). There’s also Trevor McDonald, who made a spot start last Monday and yielded one run on two hits and no walks in seven innings, helping the Giants break a six-game skid. He was optioned soon thereafter and would be well rested.

Either way, whether Webb misses one start or ultimately needs to go on the injured list, it’s not great news for a team looking to rebound from a horrendous start to have a wounded two-time All-Star.

Friday featured some encouraging signs for the Giants, another walkless game notwithstanding. They collected 12 hits including Rafael Devers’ second homer in two games (he extended his hit streak to eight games), Willy Adames’ first multi-hit game since April 17, and Luis Arráez’s two-run single in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a thumb ailment. Robbie Ray allowed one run in six innings, and the defense was superb with fancy plays turned in by Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and Matt Chapman.

With Vitello continuing to draw up offensive-minded lineups, rookie Jesús Rodriguez got another start at catcher and reached base twice, ripping an opposite-field single and getting drilled by a pitch. His presence behind the plate meant Patrick Bailey was omitted from the lineup for the fourth time in five games.

The Giants seem to have a catcher controversy on their hands with Bailey, Rodriguez, and little-used Eric Haase on the roster and Susac on the way. Susac will return once he completes his rehab assignment. In his first two games with Sacramento, he went 5-for-8 with two homers as a DH. He’s scheduled to catch Sunday.

Vitello said Susac might not be ready for the Dodger series and added, “I think more before the end of the road trip is more realistic.”

One possibility is to option Bailey, which would have been an incomprehensible thought before the season. But it could be an opportunity to work on finding a groove. The two-time Gold Glover has scuffled mightily at the plate, his OPS falling below .400. Batting lefty in batting practice Friday, he stroked liner after liner to the opposite field.

“I’ve had stretches in the big leagues where I’ve been a really good hitter. I believe that I am that guy,” Bailey said after his BP session. “I still believe. I’ve got to be better. I’ll just continue to work until things start getting better.”

Until further notice, all Bailey can do is continue working on his swing and keep an upbeat attitude. By all accounts, he hasn’t let his dauber down.

“A negative attitude has never done anything for anybody,” Bailey said. “Obviously it sucks not playing. I’m a competitor. I want to be out there. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to show up and do the work that I need to do, and if I’m playing, give us the best chance of winning.”

Bailey is hitting .146 with a .213 on-base percentage and .183 slugging percentage. He’s 12-for-82 at the plate with just one extra-base hit — it was a doozy, a dramatic three-run homer April 22 to beat the Dodgers 3-0. Problem is, he has just two RBIs in his other 29 games.

His defense is elite, of course. He entered Friday’s game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement, and when things were going sideways in the ninth with Caleb Kilian putting three runners aboard and surrendering a run, Bailey gathered his teammates on the mound, calmed everyone down, and the game ended moments later.

The Giants have two more games with the Pirates before flying to L.A., and it seems the two prospects promoted Monday will continue getting looks. Rodríguez is 5-for-11 in four games. Bryce Eldridge, the team’s top prospect, is 1-for-9 and sat out Friday.

Vitello said, “When two guys come up, they’re not coming up to sit around.”

Until Bader returns, Vitello will explore different options in the outfield. Rodríguez played right field Wednesday, and Casey Schmitt did some defensive work in right field before Friday’s game. He hasn’t played the outfield since high school but said he’s willing to give it a try.