SAN FRANCISCO — Jeff Samardzija will return to mound for the Giants Saturday, officially marking his return from the shoulder injury he suffered May 29 against the Colorado Rockies.
Before Saturday’s game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy detailed his expectations for Samardzija’s return.
“Just a quality start,” Bochy said. “You’ll hear me say that all the time, we just want these guys to give us a chance to win. And Jeff is good to go as far as pitch count. He made that extra start down there, and went 90 pitches. So we don’t have to be careful with him. So just hoping he goes out there and does his thing and gives us a chance to win the ballgame.”
As rookies Andrew Suarez and Dereck Rodriguez have filled in admirably in Samardzija’s absence, and those of the other injured Giants starting pitchers, Bochy was asked whether Samardzija will feel any extra pressure to perform in his return to the mound.
“I don’t know about pressure,” Bochy said. “I think he, like all the starters, sure, they feel a little pressure to go out there and throw out a nice quality start and give us a chance to win. I think that goes with the territory when you pitch a game. They feel that that’s their job. So I’m sure he feels the same.”
Chris Stratton was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento to clear a spot for Samardzija on the 25-man roster.
“Well, we had to create a spot for Jeff,” Bochy said. “I think you look at Stratton’s last couple starts. Hasn’t quite been as sharp, and this gives him a chance to kind of catch his breath, work on a couple of things. And we talked to him at length today about what the plan is. Give him a couple sides, but give him a little break here before his next start. But yet, we need him available in case we have to bring him right back up. But he said he’s gotten away from some of his strengths, pitching inside, that he wants to work on. But he’s pitched some big games here for us, important games where we felt like we had to win those games. He came through for us. So he’ll be back up here.”
Stratton’s season has indeed been one of ups and downs. He currently leads the Giants in wins with eight and games started with 18, but has struggled of late, including conceding eight runs in 5.2 innings pitched in his most recent start against Colorado. His ERA, which sat at 2.22 after four starts, has steadily risen since then and currently sits at 4.93.
With the return of Samardzija, the Giants are back to full strength in their rotation. Each of their projected Opening Day starters is now healthy for the first time in the 2018 season.
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