SAN FRANCISCO — Gordon Beckham has been with the San Francisco Giants for less than 24 hours, but could be called upon to fill in for Eduardo Nunez in what will likely be the biggest series of the season, this weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Bruce Bochy said that Nunez is still recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained on Sunday while sliding into second base, and is currently questionable for the weekend series against LA. Left-handed Connor Gillaspie is the next man on the depth chart to fill in at third base, but Bochy said that the right-handed Beckham will be in consideration to start against Rich Hill and/or Clayton Kershaw, two of the best left-handed starters in baseball.
“He’ll be in the mix to help us out,” Bochy said. “He gives us another right handed bat against the tough lefties we’re gonna see.
Beckham had a .705 OPS against left-handed hitters this year with the Atlanta Braves, while Gillaspie who is hitting .650 against lefties in 20 at-bats this season.
– Bochy reiterated that Johnny Cueto is still slated to start the final game of the series tomorrow, after missing Sunday’s scheduled start with a Grade 1 groin strain.
“He’s going to do some agility stuff if he hasn’t done it already,” Bochy said. “So we can check that box off as far as breaking off the mound. He felt good yesterday so he’s good to go tomorrow.”
– Tonight’s starting pitcher for Colorado, Tyler Chatwood (ERA 4.08), might not look like anything special on paper, but the right-hander is one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues away from home, boasting an incredible 7-1 record with an ERA of 1.88. Chatwood could pass Rich Hill, who the Giants will face on Friday, for the best road ERA in all of baseball (1.74), with six shutout innings tonight.