SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The injuries that befell Giants right-hander? Tyler Beede set off a chain reaction of optimism, as often arises in the wake of such misfortune.

Beede, 26, was diagnosed with a flexor strain and an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his throwing arm. He obviously felt disappointed, since he¡¯s likely to be sidelined beyond Opening Day and thus will not claim the fifth starter¡¯s spot, as was likely. But he also sounded upbeat on Wednesday as he expressed hope of devoting the entire season to making himself better than he was before.

¡°I need to get this thing right,¡± Beede said. ¡°It¡¯s a bummer, but the initial report of not having to get surgery is encouraging to me.¡±

A second group of Giants figured to experience a surge of motivation: Beede¡¯s fellow pitchers. With Beede¡¯s absence, they have gained new life in the competition for the No. 5 starter¡¯s spot.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler cited Shaun Anderson, Andrew Suarez, Logan Webb, Trevor Cahill, Tyson Ross and Trevor Oaks as rotation candidates who should feel a renewed sense of purpose.

¡°It introduces some new and exciting competition. And I think some guys will embrace it as such,¡± Kapler said.

The first publicly ominous sign of Beede¡¯s problems appeared against Texas on Tuesday, when he lasted only one inning. Beede revealed on Wednesday that his arm had felt tight after he threw a session of live batting practice a week and a half ago, but he subsequently pitched last Thursday against Seattle, when he felt no discomfort.

Beede acknowledged that the double-injury diagnosis sounded daunting. But he was told by Dr. Ken Akizuki, the Giants¡¯ team orthopedist, that ¡°75 percent¡± of his UCL appeared ¡°fine,¡± strengthening his belief that he¡¯ll be able to avoid Tommy John surgery, which likely would sideline him for a year.

Beede said that he feels free of any pain, but he declined to discuss a timetable for his return until he receives a second opinion. He said that one physician who was mentioned as a possibility for a consultation was noted orthopedist Dr. Neil ElAttrache.

¡°I know, obviously, I want to be out there as soon as I can possibly be out there,¡± said Beede, who pitched himself into consideration for this year¡¯s rotation after finishing 5-10 with a 5.08 ERA in 24 appearances (22 starts) last year.

Said Kapler, ¡°On behalf of Tyler, I¡¯m disappointed. On behalf of the San Francisco Giants, it¡¯s tough to swallow. A guy who came out looking so good is going to be banged up for a little while. On the flip side, we feel good about our ability to help him along quickly and we¡¯re going to stay optimistic on his behalf.¡±

Rivalry gets heated, even in spring
Hit by pitches? Warnings from the umpire? A dash of taunting?

Yes, this was a Giants-Dodgers game, all right. Once the longtime antagonists made it clear that they still dislike each other, Los Angeles proceeded to blank San Francisco on seven hits Wednesday night and prevailed in a 4-0 Cactus League game.

The low hum of discord began when Giants starter Johnny Cueto hit Justin Turner on the back of his left hand with a first-inning pitch. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw plunked Giants catcher Rob Brantly an inning later, prompting umpire Tom Woodring to advise against escalating hostilities. Turner gained a measure of satisfaction when he clobbered a third-inning homer off Cueto. Kershaw appeared to exchange words with Giants third-base coach Ron Wotus as he left the mound following the third inning.

After allowing three hits and all of Los Angeles¡¯ runs during his 2 2/3 innings, Cueto indicated that he intended no malice when he plunked Turner.

¡°I don¡¯t understand why the umpire gave us warnings,¡± Cueto said through interpreter Erwin Higueros.

Rough starts
Right-hander Shaun Anderson and second baseman Yolmer S¨¢nchez are among the most prominent Giants to endure slow starts to the spring thus far. Anderson, who is in the mix for a spot in either the rotation or the bullpen, surrendered two runs over one inning on Tuesday, and he now has a 30.38 ERA (nine runs over 2 2/3 innings) over his first three spring appearances.

¡°We certainly want to see Shaun come out, bring his best stuff and fill up the strike zone,¡± Kapler said. ¡°It¡¯s still early, and a lot of baseball left to see, but we certainly want to see his best stuff.¡±

S¨¢nchez, meanwhile, has flashed the elite defense that earned him a Gold Glove Award at second base last season, but he¡¯s struggled at the plate, going hitless in his first 14 Cactus League at-bats. S¨¢nchez, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee and is competing for the starting job at second base, has been working to tweak his swing, though the adjustments don¡¯t seem to have fully clicked into place for him so far.

¡°We¡¯ve seen some good swings,¡± Kapler said. ¡°I know Yolmer wants to perform. He¡¯s been working on his swing for quite some time. We believe that it¡¯s going to come around. We¡¯re going to keep giving him some looks.¡±

Up next
The Giants continue their Cactus League schedule on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. PT, when veteran southpaw Drew Smyly -- unscored upon in 3 2/3 innings (two appearances) -- will start against the Indians at Scottsdale Stadium. Left-hander Andrew Su¨¢rez, trying to gain some traction in the competition for the fifth starter¡¯s job now that injuries have sidelined Tyler Beede, is expected to follow Smyly on the mound. Right-hander Zach Plesac will start for Cleveland.