© Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Just in time for a trip to Los Angeles. The Giants are coming off a 2-1 series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in which they looked fundamentally incapable of capitalizing on runners in scoring position. They had to lean a bit on their bullpen after easing Johnny Cueto back into action after a solid, but abbreviated five-inning, 70-pitch outing with one run allowed.
Suffice it to say, reinforcements before a three-game away split in Los Angeles, against a team which is now just a half-game back of their lead in the National League West, would be greatly appreciated.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said you can expect just that. Addressing reporters after the team’s 2-1 loss to St. Louis on Sunday (in which Kapler seemed to take issue with the suggestion that the Giants were taking this series lightly, or perhaps focusing more on the upcoming Dodgers series), he said that both Kevin Gausman and Buster Posey are expected to start on Monday.
“I feel pretty confident that Gausman is going to start tomorrow for us,” Kapler said. “I feel pretty confident that Buster is going to be available to start for us as well. Skip through the next 24 hours and see where we are but I do feel that confidence as we talk right now.”
Gausman skipped his scheduled start back from the All-Start break because his wife, Taylor, was going through complications with her pregnancy and was hospitalized. Kapler said Saturday that she’d been discharged from the hospital.
Posey, meanwhile, hasn’t played since July 4, when he suffered a left thumb contusion from a foul ball. The Giants have been cautious with him and while Kapler did not confirm that he’ll start on Monday, it’s probably safe to assume he’ll at least be available to hit off the bench if he’s activated off the 10-day injured list.
