Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
The closer is closer.
Will Smith threw a “light” bullpen session Saturday, Bruce Bochy said, and came through OK. The Giants were planning on waiting to see how his back reacted before considering their closer back, but the manager said Smith “possibly” could be used Saturday.
“We’re going to see if it tightens up,” Bochy said before the Giants played the Marlins at Oracle Park.
Smith, who has 32 saves this season, hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6 in Los Angeles, after which his back ached. Shaun Anderson has been the fill-in closer and has gone 2-for-2 in save opportunities.
Triple-A Sacramento won the Pacific Coast League championship over Round Rock on Friday night in Texas. It’s an impressive feat because a) the Giants haven’t had a Triple-A affiliate win a title since 1977 and b) the Giants have so liberally promoted from the River Cats this season.
“That is really cool,” Bochy said of the title. “We’ve taken a lot of their players, for them to hang in there and win the PCL championship, [it] says a lot about those guys’ character and of course the job [manager] Dave Brundage did.”
The Giants called up Mike Gerber and Cristhian Adames on Saturday. The only River Cats on the 40-man roster are reliever Melvin Adon, infielder Abiatal Avelino and outfielder Joe McCarthy.
Asked if the Giants could still dig into their Triple-A reserves, Bochy was not helpful. “Possibly.”
“Zero pain,” Alex Dickerson told KNBR about his swings so far. “Just a little rustiness.”
The Giants are expecting the left fielder, who ran the bases Saturday and took batting practice on the field, back by Tuesday in Boston. There is a chance he will be able to pinch-hit Sunday.
Dickerson said earlier this week he hoped to be able to pinch-hit Friday and play Saturday. There was no setback, he says; his return timeline just did not jive with the team’s.
“That’s just stuff I make up on my own, whether or not that’s a reality,” he said. “After taking batting practice [Friday], I would have thought I’d be available to pinch-hit right away. But rightfully so, they’re trying to slow me down.”
