OAKLAND — Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was pulled from his rehab start Monday at A San Jose after just 34 pitches, despite being slotted to throw around 70 pitches in what was supposed to be his first and only rehab assignment.
Cueto has dealt with blisters that have hampered him throughout this season, but a new injury seemed to present itself Monday, as Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the two-time All-Star left the game early after complaining of tightness in his right forearm. Bochy said Cueto will be evaluated by team doctors on Tuesday.
Teammate Mark Melancon has been sidelined recently with a forearm strain but Bochy said it was too early to say if the injuries were similar.
“I don’t know, I’d hate to speculate that at this point,” Bochy said. “I really don’t know until I talk to (trainer Dave Groeschner) more, until he sees him tomorrow.”
Cueto gave up just two hits in three scoreless innings with San Jose on Monday, striking out four and walking one. Bochy said that Cueto looked good in his first appearance since July 14, up until he had to be pulled from the game.
“Johnny, it looked like he was throwing the ball well up to after the third inning,” Bochy said. “But he had some forearm tightness and he had to come out of the game. They get four strikeouts, couple hits, but you know, felt something in the forearm so that’s why he was shut down.”
Cueto has started 19 games this season with 115.2 total innings pitched and a 6-7 record. His current 4.59 ERA would be his worst mark since his rookie season.
Matt Cain, Monday night’s starter in Oakland, would figure to be replaced by Cueto in the rotation if the Dominican is healthy enough to return soon. When Madison Bumgarner returned from his injury after the All-Star break, Bochy had announced Cain would move to the bullpen, but Cueto suffered his blister injury in just the second game after the break and Cain was immediately re-inserted into the rotation.
