Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Dickerson is not quite as optimistic as his manager was a day earlier about his return timetable.
Bruce Bochy said Monday the Giants were “hoping” the left fielder would be able to return Sunday, as soon as he’s eligible. Dickerson’s hope is a little more cautious.
“I have no clue to be honest,” Dickerson, with a “mild” strained oblique, told KNBR on Tuesday. “Really won’t know until I get a feel for just how it feels to swing. I’m a couple days away from that.”
Dickerson said he’s feeling better and hadn’t noticed his oblique pulling at him in “three or four days, so that’s a good sign.” Bochy indicated a day prior that Dickerson had started up baseball activity.
“Hoping to be throwing and running [Wednesday] and then I’ll have a better feel for how I am,” said Dickerson, who’s starred since coming over from San Diego, before the Giants hosted the Nationals. “Haven’t really had anything that’s tested it yet.”
Dickerson is eligible to be activated for the finale in the Phillies series, and the Giants could use his bat. He has slashed .386/.449/.773 in 30 games with San Francisco.
The Giants are suddenly in a playoff race, but Dickerson, whose 2017 back surgery wiped out his season, has to be sure he’s OK before rushing back.
“You gotta be careful with these types of injuries,” Dickerson said. “They can get way worse really fast. I gotta play it smart and just make sure it’s healed. I want to be out there as soon as possible, but I gotta be smart about it.”
Johnny Cueto’s next step will be throwing “about 30 pitches” Friday, Bochy said. He’ll pitch again in Arizona and is still on track for a September return.
“[Cueto] feels great,” Bochy said.