The Giants swept the Dodgers, took three of four from the Padres and are on the verge of sweeping the Diamondbacks.
They’ve torn through the National League West while dealing with a plethora of injuries, particularly on the pitching side. In the Giants’ 12-for-13 stretch, Ross Stripling hasn’t pitched, Alex Cobb has made one start, and Alex Wood has taken the mound twice. John Brebbia and Scott Alexander are injured, thinning the bullpen.
But rookies Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck and Ryan Walker have stepped up. Sean Manaea has been effective in his bulk innings and even Sean Hjelle has produced when called upon.
Now, the Giants are getting one arm back, with possibly another on the horizon.
San Francisco reinstated Stripling (low back strain) from the injured list, with the likelihood that he’ll contribute to Sunday’s finale against Arizona. With the Giants short on arms, Stripling could come out of the bullpen after Anthony DeSclafani’s start expires.
Both Kapler and Stripling hinted at the activation earlier in the morning, but the Giants didn’t announce the roster move officially until 12:50. In a corresponding move, Luke Jackson got placed on the 15-day IL with a low back strain.
Since Stripling last pitched on Thursday, he would only be available to pitch an inning or two in Sunday’s finale.
Stripling last pitched for the Giants on May 17, making his absence more than a month long. Before getting injured, Stripling struggled mightily, posting a 7.24 ERA in five starts and four bullpen appearances.
Most recently, Stripling tossed four shutout innings for Low-A San Jose in a rehab assignment, at one point striking out nine straight batters in Stockton. He said his fastball felt good and he consistently located it at the top of the zone.
Dominating Low-A hitters might not sound impressive, and it might not translate to MLB, but the Giants are choosing to return Stripling before he faced higher level hitters for a reason.
Camilo Doval pitched both of the last two games, making a third straight appearance unlikely for the closer. Same deal for Tyler Rogers, the setup man with a 1.86 ERA. Winn threw three innings Saturday and Luke Jackson left the mound grimacing with his back injury.
That leaves Tristan Beck, Taylor Rogers, possibly Jakob Junis and Stripling as possible arms up in relief.
The eight-year veteran is coming off a 3.01 ERA and signed a two-year, $25 million deal with SF this past winter.
The other starter whose return appears imminent is Cobb, who also pitched well in Stockton this weekend. Cobb was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain out of an abundance of caution, and the expectation was always for him to be ready for the upcoming series in New York against the Mets. That hasn’t changed.
Cobb, 35, is eligible to come off the IL on June 30. He has a 3.09 ERA in 14 starts this year.
- Asked why Casey Schmitt’s time in the starting lineup has dwindled recently, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the biggest reason is J.D. Davis performing like an All-Star at third, Brandon Crawford playing much better at shortstop while leading the teams in several ways, and Thairo Estrada playing an elite second base.
At the end of the day, playing time is earned, Kapler said. If Schmitt gets hot again like he did when he first got a chance in the bigs, he’ll resume a more regular role.
Schmitt has started 13 of SF’s 21 games in June. He’s hitting .140 with a .246 on-base percentage in the month.
Left-handed hitter Isan Díaz is playing third and hitting ninth against Arizona, with Davis shifting over to first.
- LaMonte Wade Jr. was sporting a wrap around his torso in the clubhouse Sunday; he exited Saturday’s game with back tightness. Wade isn’t in the starting lineup in the finale and has also been dealing with some side tightness.
- The Giants are heading to Toronto after Monday’s off day — one that comes at the perfect time, Kapler said — where former mainstay Brandon Belt awaits. Kapler called Belt one of the funniest players he’s been around, and that’s saying something given Kapler called Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz teammates.
- A win today would put the Giants 0.5 games back of first place in the NL West. They currently have a 22.7% at winning the division, per Fangraphs, and 75.1% playoff odds. That’s what the best record in MLB since May 1 will do.
- Mitch Haniger, who is on the 60-day IL with a forearm fracture, is getting his stitches removed on Sunday, he told KNBR.com. That will allow him to go through more intense workouts that don’t use his injured arm; with the stitches, he wasn’t supposed to sweat.