SAN FRANCISCO — Kelby Tomlinson has grown to be a favorite of manager Bruce Bochy, the kind of do-it-all bandage that can fill in around the diamond for players that need days off. Unfortunately for the Giants, their bandage has a sprained left thumb from Wednesday’s game against the Red Sox.
It came as a surprise to both Bochy and Tomlinson, who went through his post-game workout routine on Wednesday before giving trainer Dave Groeschner a call on Thursday morning.
“He woke up and it was killing him,” Bochy said.
Tomlinson was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday’s off-day, and the Giants recalled infielder Ramiro Peña from Triple-A Sacramento. Tomlinson will be in a splint for two weeks, Bochy said, and estimated that he’ll need another week of rehab before he’s ready to go. The Giants moved Sergio Romo to the 60-day DL, a move that doesn’t impact Romo’s return date, to clear a roster spot for Peña ahead of the Giants’ date with Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Friday at 7:15 p.m. Check below for more injury updates and lineups.
Peña said he was surprised to get the call-up, despite the good year he’s having with Sacramento, hitting .309 in 41 games between second base and shortstop. He missed eight days earlier this season with a concussion, caused from running into Salt Lake Bees (Angels Triple-A affiliate) first baseman Kaleb Cowart on the basepaths. Peña, a 30-year-old switch-hitter, fairs better against righties, hitting .326 against them this year compared to .254 against left-handers. He spent last season in the Padres organization, but hasn’t appeared in a major-league game since 2014 with the Braves. That year, he slashed .245/.304/.347 across 81 games.
Friday’s laundry list:
-Angel Pagan will fly to El Paso, Texas, to join the Rivercats and begin his rehab assignment. Currently he’s scheduled to play three games and join the Giants on Wednesday, but Bochy laughingly agreed he could be convinced to shorten Pagan’s rehab by a game.
-Matt Cain threw a bullpen before Friday’s game, and Bochy said he’ll likely start on Monday against the Brewers barring an unforeseen setback. He’s been sidelined with a right hamstring strain.
-Sergio Romo is expected to throw off a mound Saturday, the next step in his gradual distance throwing. The right-hander was supposed to join the Giants on their last road trip before experiencing elbow tenderness while throwing with Sacramento.
-The Giants signed veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia to a minor-league deal, and Bochy estimated he’ll need to workout for two weeks at the Giants’ complex in Arizona before joining the Rivercats.
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Buster Posey returns to the lineup for the first time in five days, and we now know he had a cortisone shot last Sunday to help the irritated nerve in his right thumb. Mac Williamson is also starting the game after his go-ahead home run against David Price.
Giants lineup against Clayton Kershaw
CF – Denard Span
2B – Joe Panik
3B – Matt Duffy
C – Buster Posey
1B – Brandon Belt
LF – Mac Williamson
SS – Brandon Crawford
RF – Jarrett Parker
RHP – Johnny Cueto
Dodgers lineup against Johnny Cueto
2B – Chase Utley
SS – Corey Seager
3B – Justin Turner
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
RF – Trayce Thompson
CF – Joc Pederson
C – Yasmani Grandal
LF – Kike Hernandez
LHP – Clayton Kershaw