Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Joey Rickard became the odd man out.
To make room for Logan Webb, Saturday’s starting pitcher, to be activated, the outfielder was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento ahead of the game in Arizona.
The 22-year-old Webb, who had made just one start at Sacramento, will be the youngest pitcher to start for the Giants since Madison Bumgarner (20) in 2009.
Rickard, who homered in his first official at-bat for the Giants, on Aug. 9, has gone 3-for-13 with a .375 on base-percentage since being called up, mostly as a righty bat off the bench.
The swap gave the Giants an interesting roster balance, with only three position players available off the bench: Austin Slater, Donovan Solano and Buster Posey, who was getting a break against Arizona righty Taylor Clarke.
That meant the Giants were stockpiling their bullpen a day after a busy, 11-inning game and on a night when they were throwing a rookie starter, with little feel of how Webb would fare. The Giants had nine relievers in the bullpen, though they likely would stay away from Will Smith and Tony Watson.
Here’s the Giants’ lineup:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
2. Stephen Vogt, C
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Alex Dickerson, LF
5. Scooter Gennett, 2B
6. Kevin Pillar, CF
7. Brandon Belt, 1B
8. Brandon Crawford, SS
9. Logan Webb, P