Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Triggs’ comeback with the Giants likely is finished, having lasted a single out.
The 31-year-old, who pitched in three seasons with Oakland before surgery in 2018 to fix thoracic outlet syndrome, which shut down his career, was designated for assignment by the Giants on Wednesday.
The Giants needed 40-man roster space for Trevor Cahill, who was set to start the series finale in Houston. Also on the move were Dereck Rodriguez (up) and Conner Menez and Rico Garcia (down).
Triggs had impressed in camp 1.0, the big righty looking like a possible piece after he had thrown 2 2/3 innings in the minors with Oakland in 2019 coming off the surgery. He stuck in the pool and had been in Sacramento until Aug. 2, when he took Drew Smyly’s spot on the big-league roster.
He got one big out in that day’s game to escape inherited trouble, but then walked the bases loaded against Texas. All three runs would come around to score in a 9-5 Giants loss.
Triggs was soon demoted and had been in Sacramento until the DFA. It’s possible he clears waivers and stays with the Giants, though it’s unlikely he would get a chance to pitch in the big leagues again this year.
About half an hour before first pitch the Giants scratched Austin Slater from the lineup. No reason was provided.
The righty-hitting outfielder, who has emerged as a budding star, has been trying to prove he can hit righties, too, and had been their No. 3 hitter against Zack Greinke.
Hunter Pence went from DH to right field, and Wilmer Flores was the new DH and No. 3 hitter.
Donovan Solano is “doing fine,” Gabe Kapler said before Wednesday’s game against the Astros. The sizzling infielder was on the bench for a second straight day with abdominal soreness.
“We’re going to be very cautious with him,” said Kapler, who instead was playing Mauricio Dubon at second and Brandon Crawford at shortstop. “I’m not going to say that he’s not available to play today, but I will say that we’re not going to put him at risk. And we think getting through this [Thursday] off day might be really beneficial for Donovan.”
Kapler said it’s not yet a possibility Solano goes on the IL.
Also out of the lineup against Greinke was Pablo Sandoval, yet another righty the Panda will not see.
Tuesday, Kapler said the Giants wanted to give him a break from the starting lineup partly because of a family issue. Sandoval later pinch-hit and struck out.
Kapler said Sandoval is “doing better,” but they wanted Pence in the lineup a day after the righty hitter homered. It’s worth questioning Sandoval’s fit on a roster if he does not hit against righties.
“Just felt like the work that [Pence] did yesterday and the work that he’s done prior to games, just felt really comfortable putting him in the middle of lineup today,” Kapler said.
Asked about Yolmer Sanchez, whose back spasms kept him off the Opening Day roster and since then has rehabbed, with few concrete updates concerning his health or bat, Kapler said: “I don’t really actually have anything to report specifically.”
The full lineup behind Cahill:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, CF
2. Alex Dickerson, LF
3. Wilmer Flores, DH
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Evan Longoria, 3B
6. Hunter Pence, RF
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
8. Tyler Heineman, C
9. Mauricio Dubon, 2B