Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Dickerson is back, and Cristhian Adames is here.
The Giants’ lineup for Wednesday’s game in Boston featured a cleanup hitter who hadn’t started since Sept. 3, Dickerson’s oblique keeping him out more than two weeks. Some rehab and a cortisone shot later, Dickerson has said he feels better, and after pinch-hitting the go-ahead sacrifice fly in Tuesday’s victory, he’s back to left field and back to the middle of the lineup.
Further down the lineup is Adames, batting seventh and playing third to spell Evan Longoria. It will be the 28-year-old’s first start since April 11, 2017, when he was with Colorado. He has bounced around the minors since, just missing the Cubs’ Opening Day roster this year and then tearing a ligament in his hand that kept him out two months. Just as he returned, the Cubs released him, and the Giants pounced. Adames has seen one at-bat since his Saturday call-up, a strikeout.
It’s possible the lineup will flip quickly, as righty starter Jhoulys Chacin has primarily been used as an opener recently. The veteran went 2 2/3 scoreless innings in Toronto on Thursday in his last outing.
Mike Yastrzemski will get a chance for his encore immediately, batting leadoff, though Bruce Bochy moved him back to his more-normal right field. And Aramis Garcia is in at catcher, as Stephen Vogt, who caught 15 innings a night prior, moves to DH and Buster Posey moves closer to a return. The catcher has a sore back, and Bochy told reporters in Boston he’ll play catch Thursday.
Finally, on Chris Shaw Day in Lexington, Mass., the Boston College grad will watch from the dugout, at least from the start. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Tuesday, his first start of the season.
Here’s the full lineup:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
2. Brandon Belt, 1B
3. Kevin Pillar, CF
4. Alex Dickerson, LF
5. Stephen Vogt, DH
6. Brandon Crawford, SS
7. Cristhian Adames, 3B
8. Mauricio Dubon, 2B
9. Aramis Garcia, C
P: Jeff Samardzija