On-Air Now
On-Air Now
Listen Live from the Casino Matrix Studio

Giants return Wilmer Flores from IL for road trip

By

/

© Robert Edwards | 2023 Jun 24

Gabe Kapler admitted that Monday’s off day couldn’t have come at a better time for his worn-down club, and now the roster is getting more full.

The Giants reinstated Wilmer Flores from the injured list, making him available in the minimum amount of time on the IL. In a corresponding move, San Francisco optioned Isan Díaz, who went 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in his first chance with the big league team of 2023.

Flores suffered his foot injury in a flukey way, when he fouled a ball off his left foot and preceded to home run in Dodger Stadium. It was one of several insane plays in a bizarre Giants victory.

Without Flores, the Giants’ bench was thin on right-handed hitters. Casey Schmitt has been in a week-long funk at the plate, Mitch Haniger is on the 60-day IL, and David Villar his hitting .159.

Flores is slashing .258/.324/.452. and is valuable in his versatility and willingness to contribute as a bench piece.

The Giants are getting Flores back as they embark on a six-game road trip, with three-game series in Toronto and New York to play the Mets. Both teams have the talent to contend, but neither lead their incredibly tough divisions.

For the Blue Jays series, the giants will start Ryan Walker Tuesday night, Logan Webb Wednesday and have TBD listed for the Thursday finale. The Jays are countering with former Giant Kevin Gausman in the opener, with TBA on Wednesday and former Athletic Chris Bassitt in the finale.

Since last year, when Gausman left San Francisco for the five-year, $110 million deal that awaited him in Toronto, no pitcher has amassed more Fangraphs WAR (8.8). He has a 3.10 ERA in his first 16 starts this season while leading the American League in total strikeouts.

The other former Giant waiting to play his old team, of course, is Brandon Belt. The two-time World Series champion with San Francisco has been scorching hot from the plate for Toronto. Since May 1, he’s hitting .317 with a .938 OPS. His 165 wRC+ ranks 12th among all hitters with at least 60 plate appearances in that stretch.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, Belt said “It’s going to be cool to face old friends. I hope I hit homers off every one of them.”

Belt said that up until the day he signed with the Blue Jays, he thought there was a chance of returning to the Giants, where he played the first 12 years of his career. With Belt gone, LaMonte Wade Jr. has taken the everyday first base role and ran with it, earning All-Star consideration with his elite combination of plate discipline and power.