Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
One big bat would be missing from Tuesday’s lineup, but the Giants would have another.
Evan Longoria, while his sore right glute is “doing better,” will take a seat for a second straight game and watch Pablo Sandoval handle third base, Gabe Kapler said before the Giants’ opening game of a short, two-game set with the Mariners at Oracle Park. Longoria could play “in a big spot tonight or in an emergency situation,” but otherwise Kapler will stay away from him.
The news was better for Alex Dickerson, whom the Giants penciled (typed?) in as their No. 2 hitter. They wanted to see how he took swings in the cage before asking him to face Ljay Newsome, and apparently he came through OK. Dickerson fouled a ball hard off his right knee Monday, resulting in a contusion and negative X-rays.
Dickerson, slashing .448/.500/1.000 in his past eight games, would have been a significant loss for an offense that has been rolling.
On the pitching side, the Giants announced Tyler Anderson would start Wednesday’s finale with the Mariners but did not reveal anything past that. Drew Smyly could return for that game in relief or Thursday, when the Giants open a series with the Padres, either out of the pen or as a starter.
Trevor Cahill would be in line to start Thursday, and Kapler said the Giants “still see him as starting on turn.” It’s possible they ask Cahill, coming off a hip injury, to throw about three innings before handing off to Smyly, who’s built up for three or four innings.
As Smyly returns, Jeff Samardzija continues to build up. There isn’t an obvious spot for him in the rotation, and Kapler said he would throw a simulated game Thursday in Sacramento. He threw about 50 pitches — though no splitters and sat at about 89-90 mph — Saturday, but after his struggles at the onset of the season, they are not rushing a return.
The full lineup for Tuesday’s action behind Logan Webb:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
2. Alex Dickerson, LF
3. Donovan Solano, 2B
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Wilmer Flores, DH
6. Brandon Crawford, SS
7. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
8. Joey Bart, C
9. Mauricio Dubon, CF