It was game 269 for Madison Bumgarner, 269 appearances with Bruce Bochy watching from the dugout.
It likely would not be the pair’s final together. But the countdown, as the Giants flounder and the July trade deadline nears, is on.
“I try not to think about it,” Bochy said before Bumgarner squared off against the Dodgers on Sunday for the series’ rubber match.
One more go at the Dodgers, against whom he has a 2.56 career ERA, San Francisco fans’ likely last chance to watch Bumgarner twirl against the rivals at Oracle Park.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Bochy said. “I know he’s part of this club. Look, with that said, I appreciate every start he makes anyway.”
The two have won three World Series titles together, and their marriage likely will be broken up early. Bochy has said he’s retiring at season’s end, but the 26-37 Giants are approaching a rebuild that can’t wait.
“Even if it wasn’t in a situation being talking about, a possible trade and all that — I appreciate how competitive these guys are, how good they are, how talented they are,” Bochy said. “That never stops, whether it’s [Buster] Posey or Bumgarner. It’s fun to see guys who are really good at what they do.”
Brandon Belt was scratched with a stomach illness. Pablo Sandoval was flipped from third to first, with Evan Longoria filling in at third.
Bochy said there have been no setbacks with Posey (hamstring), who hit Saturday and “possibly” could return Wednesday, when he’s eligible to be activated from the 10-day disabled list.
Posey was set to run on the treadmill Sunday and run the bases Monday.
“All goes well, [a Wednesday return is] a possibility,” Bochy said.
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