KANSAS CITY -- Giants starter Trevor McDonald went back to the mound for the fifth inning during San Francisco's 4-3 loss to the Royals on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, but never faced a batter.
Manager Tony Vitello and the training staff went out to check on McDonald after the righty warmed up for the frame, and shortly thereafter McDonald handed the ball to Vitello and went back to the dugout alongside a trainer.
McDonald received imaging on Tuesday and was diagnosed with a right elbow strain. The 25-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list ahead of San Francisco's 3-2 loss to Kansas City, with right-hander Tristan Beck taking his place after getting recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. McDonald's next steps are yet to be determined.
“Some elbow discomfort,” McDonald said on Monday night. “Probably best to come out when I did. We’ll take it day by day.”
Righty JT Brubaker was summoned from the bullpen to take over after McDonald exited. McDonald had gotten off to a strong start, but wilted in the fourth when Salvador Perez crushed a Statcast-projected 440-foot two-run homer before Isaac Collins tacked on a two-out RBI single.
McDonald wound up allowing three runs on four hits and two walks (plus two hit batters) to go along with three strikeouts. In 14 starts this season, McDonald has a 5.12 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.