The Giants got some good news and some bad news on Friday on the injury front ahead of their three-game home series against the Dodgers.
Outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr., who was supposed to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, felt tightness in his left hamstring and will have his timeline delayed. Anthony DeSclafani, however, will make a rehab start on Saturday in Sacramento and appears on track to return to the big league club on June 21 — the first day he’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list.
Wade will be held out of his previously scheduled rehab assignment over the weekend and be re-evaluated next Monday. Manager Gabe Kapler said the injury came up when Wade was running bases earlier this week.
“It sucks,” Kapler said. “Given how hard LaMonte has worked and we’ve really felt good about how his last rehab went. I don’t know if we’re at the stage where we have to consider this a real setback, but we’re going to get through the weekend before we decide what’s next.”
Kapler said the day Wade injured his hamstring was one of the better days he had “in a really long time.” The club was very encouraged by the outfielder’s progress. But one of his last turns on the basepaths, Wade felt a snag, the manager said. When he arrived in Sacramento for his rehab assignment, tightness lingered.
Now Wade is back in San Francisco with the team instead of actively progressing toward a return. He’s played just 10 games so far this year. Left knee inflammation during spring training delayed his season and its flare-up has now sidelined him since May 18.
DeSclafani appears to be on a more linear path back to the big-league club. The right-handed starter who has been on the 60-day IL with right ankle inflammation is slated to make a rehab assignment in Sacramento on Saturday. He said he’ll definitely make another rehab start after that, but should be on track to return to the Giants when he’s eligible to come off the IL on June 21.
The starter said his ankle has been pain-free so far, but he still needs to get into a game situation when the adrenaline’s pumping. That’s difficult to simulate in bullpen sessions.
“Tomorrow will be a good test,” DeSclafani said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it is.”
On a more immediate note, there’s still hope that first baseman Brandon Belt could be activated during this weekend series. The veteran has missed the past 19 games with knee soreness and is considered day-to-day. Kapler said he’s set to go through some more intense on-field workouts. Belt took some pregame grounders at first base.
“We’re going to stay optimistic with Brandon,” Kapler said.
- Tommy La Stella isn’t starting on Friday due to some back tightness, but it’s not considered major. The infielder’s expected to be available off the bench.
- Saturday night is Pride Night, and both the Giants and Dodgers will wear pride-inspired jerseys. It’s believed to be the first major American sports event with both teams wearing the pride logo.
“We’re really looking forward to it, and we’re looking forward to partnering with the Dodgers on it,” Kapler said. “Really coming together and emphasizing that it’s not enough to sort of reluctantly accept any community. It’s really important that everybody feels welcome and wanted and appreciated. That is absolutely true for the LGBTQ+ community.”
- Matt Boyd is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session at Oracle Park on Monday. The veteran southpaw signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract this winter and could make an impact on an already talented rotation. Boyd told the San Francisco Chronicle that he’s up to 40 pitches in bullpen sessions.
