Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
As long as “all goes well” this weekend, the Giants will have a new (and old) rotation member next week.
The Giants are “leaning toward Saturday” for Johnny Cueto’s next Triple-A Sacramento start, Bruce Bochy said Tuesday. As long as Cueto survives, the next time he takes the mound will be with the Giants, likely to debut in Los Angeles the first full weekend of September.
Cueto, noticeably slimmer, was back at Oracle Park before the Giants’ game against the Diamondbacks, taking batting practice with the rest of the pitchers.
The 33-year-old has made five rehab appearances as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, his latest Monday, when he threw 65 pitches and allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He told reporters afterward he felt he needed one more start to be ready, which he will receive.
Bochy said the Giants “wanted to be fair to Scooter” Gennett, whom they waived. With Mauricio Dubon called up, he would not have played much.
Gennett batted .234 with a pair of home runs in 21 games with San Francisco.
Joey Rickard, who rode the minor-league-to-major-league-and-back carousel with the Orioles, too, was among those summoned Tuesday.
The call up to the big leagues “never gets old,” the 28-year-old said.
Mike Yastrzemski was back in the lineup after missing a game with a bruised left hand, suffered in Sunday’s plunking. He led off and played right field.