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Oh boy.
After Jeff Samardzija and Madison Bumgarner sustained injuries on back-to-back days last week, another Giants pitcher, and possibly two, may soon be joining them on the disabled list.
Rule 5 draft pick Julian Fernandez, who had a chance to make the opening day roster, is going on the DL with a UCL strain. Giants closer Mark Melancon, who missed two months due to forearm issues last year, may also be headed there, Bruce Bochy told reporters on Tuesday. The Giants are not 100 percent confident he’ll be ready for the start of the season, as he’s still feeling something in his arm. Melancon had surgery last September to fix a right pronator strain.
Oh boy. Rule 5 flamethrower Julian Fernandez has a UCL strain. Going on DL
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 27, 2018
Mark Melancon hasn’t pitched since Friday and won’t tonight. He’s feeling something in arm still. Giants unsure if he’ll be ready for opening day.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) March 27, 2018
“We’re going to see how he’s doing tomorrow,” Bochy told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re just not going to pitch him right now. We’re hoping he’s all good for Thursday but we don’t know right now if that’s going to be the case. We’re just letting him play catch right now. That’s all.”
If Melancon is not ready to go by Thursday, the Giants will likely start the season with Sam Dyson, who filled in admirably last year, or new acquisition Tony Watson to take over ninth-inning duties.
