Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants will squish an enormous part of their playoff odds, both to reach and make noise within, into an MRI tube on Friday morning.
Mike Yastrzemski will get tests on a tight right calf that forced him out of Thursday’s 6-4 win over the Mariners at Oracle Park in the second inning.
Yaz has played in every game for the Giants this year and has been their MVP, as well as a fringe NL MVP candidate. He has hit against everyone, lefties and righties, and has taken the field through everything, which makes anything that could keep him out huge cause for concern.
Yastrzemski felt the calf get tight while in the batter’s box on his stride, Gabe Kapler said, having struck out in the first inning. He stayed in, even going on a long run for a foul ball, but felt the tightness in the dugout and didn’t go out for the bottom of the second, replaced by Luis Basabe.
Kapler said this is the first time this year Yastrzemski has felt it, and they pulled him “to be cautious.”
“Valuable” is the right word for Yastrzemski because the Giants really don’t have a replacement, having churned through plenty of outfielders this year. Austin Slater is not likely to play the field again this year with a flexor strain in his elbow. Alex Dickerson and Darin Ruf have split left, Mauricio Dubon has manned center and Basabe — a fallen prospect who is raw — was their only choice Thursday.
Their top Sacramento options, if Yastrzemski misses time, would include Steven Duggar and Jaylin Davis.
Basabe tallied his first hit (a solid single to left), two walks and two runs scored, a big day of firsts for the 24-year-old from Venezuela.
“It was a big emotion,” Basabe said through translator Erwin Higueros of his first hit. “I wanted to smile to enjoy the moment, but it was a really big moment for me.”
He said his first phone call will go to his twin brother, Luis Alejandro Basabe, a prospect with the Diamondbacks. But his mother, Dixi, will get the ball.
It could have been an even bigger day for the right fielder. Kapler said Basabe is the emergency catcher and has been doing some bullpen work, a role that Pablo Sandoval left vacant. The Giants pinch-hit for Joey Bart, and Chadwick Tromp finished the game.
Johnny Cueto has some hip tightness, Kapler said, having watched the righty throw a side session Thursday with trainer Dave Groeschner. But the Giants believe he will be fine for his next start.
The Giants will throw Logan Webb, Kevin Gausman and Cueto, in that order, in Oakland this weekend.
After Tyler Anderson was ejected, the Giants used five relievers, led by a masterful Wandy Peralta. They had to use six on Wednesday.
Rico Garcia pitched well in both, two scoreless innings, and could be headed back to Sacramento as they search for fresh arms.
“There’s a possibility that we make some roster decisions here that give us a little bit of length or coverage,” Kapler said.