SAN FRANCISCO — Cory Gearrin threw one hanging slider too many to Nolan Arenado, and got burned for more than just a three-run home run. The right-hander landed on the disabled list Wednesday afternoon with a right shoulder strain, an injury that had been nagging at him for a little while.
“It was affecting his slider, and it was obvious,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I think it’s the best thing to get this cleared up.”
Albert Suarez was recalled in Gearrin’s place, and is available out of the bullpen for the series finale between the Giants (53-33) and Rockies (38-45). Johnny Cueto (12-1, 2.57 ERA) is on the hill against Jorge De La Rosa (5-5, 5.98 ERA). Lineups are below.
Gearrin is the first Giants reliever to get injured since George Kontos was sidelined with a right flexor strain in April. It’s been a stroke of good fortune for Bochy, who’s leaned on his relievers for a high volume of appearances. Gearrin’s already appeared in 41 games, four more than his career high. Hunter Strickland is on pace to blow by his career high in appearances, and Josh Osich already has.
“We know we’ve been using these guys a lot,” Bochy said. “Ideally I’d love to place all the bullpen guys on the two-week DL to freshen them up.”
Unforunately for Bochy, he doesn’t have that luxury. Surely he’d like Cueto to pitch deep into the game a day after the bullpen was lit up for seven runs. Suarez hasn’t pitched in three days, but threw a career-high 103 pitches against the Diamondbacks. That start was in place of Matt Cain, who’s scheduled to throw 65 pitches in a start for Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. Then he’ll make another rehab start after that, Bochy said.
It looks like Suarez will start the second half in the Giants rotation if that plans holds up for Cain. On the subject of minor league assignments, Matt Duffy could start his over the All-Star break. Hunter Pence is still hoping to have his assignment figured out by this weekend.
Denard Span, who sounded as if he was on the doorstep of the disabled list, was hitting on the field Wednesday afternoon. He came out of the session feeling well, and is on track to start against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
After being scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with a sore left knee, Gregor Blanco is doing better and is available to pinch hit.
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MLB released their first update on the All-Star Game Final Vote, and Brandon Belt is leading the NL field with 2.5 million votes. Starling Marte, Trevor Story, Jake Lamb and Ryan Braun all trail Belt, in that order. Fans can vote for Belt until 1 p.m. PST on Friday by texting “N1” to 89269. The winners will be announced Friday on MLB Network at 1 p.m.
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Giants lineup against Jorge De La Rosa
CF – Angel Pagan (S)
2B – Grant Green
1B – Brandon Belt (L)
C – Buster Posey
SS – Brandon Crawford (L)
RF – Mac Williamson
3B – Ruben Tejada
LF – Jarrett Parker (L)
RHP – Johnny Cueto
Rockies lineup against Johnny Cueto
CF – Charlie Blackmon (L)
2B – D.J. LaMahieu
3B – Nolan Arenado
RF – Carlos Gonzalez (L)
SS – Trevor Story
1B – Daniel Descalso (L)
LF – Brandon Barnes
C – Tony Wolters (L)
LHP – Jorge De La Rosa (L)