Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
From Mustache May to Jeopardizing June.
Along with Logan Webb, Mike Yastrzemski hit the 10-day injured list, too, with a thumb sprain on Thursday, and the Giants’ walking wounded has reached a fairly ridiculous level.
Yastrzemski, whose IL stint is backdated to Wednesday, is expected to miss 7-14 days, Gabe Kapler said before the Giants hosted the Cubs for the start of a four-game series. Utility man Jason Vosler, who can play the infield and outfield corners, was recalled in a bit of fortunate timing, ready to play against his original organization.
Against the first righty they saw (Seattle’s Chris Flexen) this season, the Giants’ lineup had Tommy La Stella batting first, Yastrzemski second and Brandon Belt fourth. All are now on the injured list. Batting third was Donovan Solano, who was recently activated; batting fifth was Evan Longoria, who has not been put on the shelf but is out another day with soreness in his right side.
The next-man-up mentality is a strong one, and players such as LaMonte Wade Jr. (batting leadoff and playing first) and Steven Duggar (batting seventh and playing left) have emerged. But the Giants’ lefty bats, particularly, have been ravaged.
If there is good news, it leads with Belt, who was taking ground balls at first on Thursday and who is eligible to be activated Saturday. Kapler said he could return this weekend after he has sat since May 25 with a left oblique strain.
Longoria, too, is not far away after leaving Monday’s game early. Kapler thought the third baseman could be an option off the bench Thursday and could start Friday.
It will not be too long for Yastrzemski, but it’s still his second IL trip of the season for a player whose heart is not in question, having hurt his thumb crashing into the wall Tuesday.
“You’re never going to tell a guy to dial it back and you’re never going to ask him to play any less aggressively than he does,” Kapler said over Zoom. “At the same time, it’s tough because sometimes that aggressiveness leads to some minor aches and pains.”
La Stella, meanwhile, is on the 60-day IL with a hamstring strain and out until July.
An indication of the state of the Giants is that, against Cubs righty Zach Davies, righty hitter Wilmer Flores is batting cleanup. The full lineup:
1. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
2. Buster Posey, C
3. Alex Dickerson, LF
4. Wilmer Flores, 3B
5. Brandon Crawford, SS
6. Donovan Solano, 2B
7. Steven Duggar, CF
8. Mike Tauchman, RF
9. Anthony DeSclafani, P
Starting pitching prospect Matt Frisbee was officially promoted to Triple-A on Thursday. The big righty posted a 1.24 ERA in 29 Double-A innings.
“The fact that he’s in Triple-A and not too far away at this point is certainly encouraging to us all,” Kapler said.
Again taking ground balls at first base was Alex Dickerson. If Belt is not able to return soon, perhaps he would be an option there.