Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmie Sherfy was nearly perfect, and then he was distinctly imperfect, and now he is just about gone.
The Giants designated the righty reliever for assignment Tuesday, part of a busy day of roster moves that included activating Tyler Beede, who took Sherfy’s spot on the 40- and 26-man rosters.
Sherfy, who had pitched in the majors for parts of three seasons with Arizona, was impressive with Triple-A Sacramento then added to the roster in June. He did not allow a run in seven innings through his first six games.
He had fallen out of favor in the past 10 days, though, as he has allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings and became the least trusted in a bullpen that has rounded into form.
“I think he’s a quality major league pitcher, and I let him know that this is just kind of a function of us having a lot of competition in our bullpen right now,” Gabe Kapler said before the game against the Cardinals. “And I think he was professional and understanding about the situation and believes that he belongs on a major league mound, which I don’t disagree with.”
Dominic Leone and John Brebbia have shown more than Sherfy, while Zack Littell has been up and down. Jose Alvarez and Jarlin Garcia have been solid from the left side, while Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers are the late-inning options.
Since June 1, the Giants bullpen’s 2.12 ERA is the best in the majors. The unit has become a strength, and Sherfy became a victim of it.
The Giants also moved Jaylin Davis to the 10-day injured list with a grade one strain of his left hamstring. They can take a few weeks to heal, and Kapler did not divulge a timetable for the 27-year-old, who had just been activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday.
“I think Jaylin is very disappointed. [I am] personally very disappointed for Jaylin,” Kapler said the outfielder, who incurred the strain while running out a ground ball Monday. “Thought his at-bats were much better. I don’t think he had the greatest results, but I thought he just looked different. He looked more confident.”
Davis went just 1-for-9, but he continued showing both that he could hit the ball hard and that he needs to hit more in the air. He had the two hardest-hit balls of the game Monday, but both were ground outs.
The Giants have not shaken up their rotation, and All-Star Kevin Gausman still is on track to pitch Sunday, which would mean he would not pitch in the following Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“It’s a real honor to pitch in the All-Star Game,” said Kapler, who simply said the timing was preventing it from happening.
Kapler said Buster Posey (left thumb contusion) is “still sore.” The manager hoped Posey could be a pinch-hit possibility, but he has not been swinging since he was forced out of Sunday’s game. Chadwick Tromp was set to catch Johnny Cueto on Tuesday.
Aaron Sanchez threw a live batting practice Tuesday, going two innings and 40 pitches.
“I thought Sanchez looked good today,” Kapler of Sanchez, working his way back from right bicep tightness and a blister issue. “I thought the sinker looked good.”