Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports
Johnny Cueto Day is coming.
Bruce Bochy told reporters in Chicago that Cueto could make his return around Sept. 8, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
That is assuming he continues to rehab smoothly after Tommy John surgery. He will throw in three more games, including Tuesday night with High-A San Jose. Cueto was scheduled to throw 55-60 pitches.
His next few starts likely would come with Triple-A Sacramento before the projected Sept. 8 return, which would be in Los Angeles.
Thus far, in two outings in Arizona and one in San Jose, the 33-year-old has pitched 6 2/3 innings while allowing six hits, no walks and striking out nine.
The Giants got “the best possible news” on Steven Duggar. They’re about to get some news, one way or the other, on Pablo Sandoval.
Bochy told reporters before the series opener against the Cubs that Duggar does not need surgery on his left AC joint, according to the Mercury News. After shoulder surgery cost him the end of last season, shoulder rehab, for four-to-six weeks, likely will cost him the end of this year. Duggar got the good news Monday from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Southern California.
Also meeting with ElAttrache will be Sandoval on Tuesday, Bochy said. Sandoval needs his right, throwing elbow examined, which has bone chips that have made batting righty and throwing painful. He was placed on the IL last week and hasn’t started since Aug. 7.
Sandoval got a cortisone shot that has not helped the pain, and ElAttrache will look at an ailment that sometimes requires surgery.