How long is Logan Webb out? Right knee bursitis lands Giants ace on injured list

Logan Webb failed to make it through five innings for the first time of the season on May 5, leaving early with knee discomfort. That night, he gave up six runs in four innings against the San Diego Padres. 

With his next outing set for Monday on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Webb was scratched from the start. He was then placed on the IL Saturday with right knee bursitis, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

In response, Trevor McDonald will be recalled from Triple-A. McDonald made one spot start earlier in the season for the Giants, allowing one run in seven innings.

Here's what to know about Webb's absence from the Giants rotation.

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How long is Logan Webb out? 

Logan Webb was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, May 6, the day after his latest start. This means that, at the earliest, Webb is eligible to return on May 21. Whether he will make that speedy of a recovery remains to be seen. 

Webb was pulled after four innings and 62 pitches against the Padres Tuesday, but this knee discomfort was not a new phenomenon for Webb. 

"I've dealt with it for a little while, but it's still no excuse," Webb said postgame, per MLB.com.

Pavlovic clarified that the expectation for Webb is to spend the minimum amount of time on the IL. This means that, in an ideal world, Webb will only miss two turns through the rotation.

Giants manager Tony Vitello emphasized Webb's desire to keep pitching through injury. He described the event of convincing Webb to go to the injured list as "pulling teeth." 

"What's best in the long run is a difficult conversation with (Webb) because he wants to man up, and therefore he has manned up, and I think thrown more than anybody (the) last couple years," Vitello said, per Pavlovic.

This marks Webb's first trip to the injured list in five years. The Giants ace has built a reputation as an innings eater with a remarkable health record throughout his MLB tenure. 

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What is right knee bursitis?

Right knee bursitis is an inflammation in the knee. Specifically, the bursa is a fluid-filled sac in the knee that begins swelling and causing pain during bursitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.

In practicality, Webb is dealing with significant pain and swelling in his knee that can reduce his mobility on the mound. After playing through the injury for an extended period of time, the pain and swelling has finally landed him on the IL.

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Right knee bursitis return timeline

The return timeline can vary for knee bursitis, but the Giants expect him to be back as soon as he is eligible to come off the IL on May 21. 

There's a chance Webb will be wearing a kneepad when he returns to help prevent further damage. Nonetheless, this is an injury that comes and goes and will be monitored throughout the season. It's not as simple as surgery and six months, but rather a constant battle to play through pain and slowly heal. 

Logan Webb season stats

Webb has had a tough season. After finishing in the top six in NL Cy Young voting each of the past three seasons, Webb has posted an ERA above five in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. 

Logan Webb contract details

Webb signed a five-year, $90 million extension with the Giants in April 2023. Since then, he's soared, becoming a legitimate Cy Young candidate over the past few seasons. 

He's eligible for free agency after the 2028 season, meaning he has plenty of time to get back on track before teams start calling.