SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants leaned on Albert Suarez to get them through Matt Cain’s last disabled list stint, but the substitution this time around might not be as clear cut. Cain landed on the disabled list Tuesday night after reaggravating his right hamstring on Monday.
Suarez found out about the injury during Tuesday’s game, and hadn’t spoken a word with the coaching staff about filling back in the rotation. That’s because the Giants have an off-day Thursday, and could potentially skip Cain’s start and still throw every pitcher on normal rest. But another wrinkle in that course is the status of Jake Peavy’s neck, which Bruce Bochy said is still “pretty sore,” and almost caused him to miss his start on Sunday.
So the Giants could potentially swap rotation spots, giving Peavy an extra day of rest to start on Sunday, and throw Suarez on regular rest Saturday. Bochy said he’ll have a definite plan come Friday, when the Giants (40-26) arrive in Tampa Bay. What is assured is Johnny Cueto’s (9-1, 2.16 ERA) start at 12:45 p.m., looking for a sweep of the Brewers (30-35) and Jimmy Nelson (5-5, 3.43 ERA).
Some other notes from Bochy on Wednesday morning:
-Brandon Belt is OK after getting hit on the right foot Tuesday night. He was limping around the clubhouse with ice wrapped around his ankle, and Bochy said the first baseman might even be available to pinch hit. It wasn’t a definite, but he hopes Belt will good to start Friday against the Rays.
-Bochy hasn’t decided how he’ll utilize his DH spot this weekend, but confirmed Buster Posey will “obviously” slot there for one game. He joked about Madison Bumgrner doing it. “Joked.”
-Angel Pagan’s return allows Bochy to finally give Denard Span a day off, a luxury he really didn’t have with Pagan and Hunter Pence abesences.
Giants lineup against Jimmy Nelson
CF – Gregor Blanco
2B – Joe Panik
SS – Brandon Crawford
C – Buster Posey
3B – Matt Duffy
LF – Angel Pagan
RF – Jarrett Parker
1B – Conor Gillaspie
RHP – Johnny Cueto
Brewers lineup against Johnny Cueto
SS – Jonathan Villar
2B – Scooter Gennett
1B – Jonathan Lucroy
CF – Kirk Nieuwenhuis
3B – Hernan Perez
RF – Ramon Flores
C – Martin Maldanado
LF – Alex Presley
RHP – Jimmy Nelson