© Ron Chenoy | USA Today
The big, bad news for the Giants today is the loss of Pablo Sandoval with season-ending hamstring surgery. But there is also positive injury news.
Closer Hunter Strickland, who fractured his right hand after a 5-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on June 18, is getting ever nearer to a return. He pitched to hitters today at the Giants Minor League complex earlier today. Because Strickland was placed on the 60-day disabled list, he is not eligible to return to action until August 18, but he appears likely to return around that time.
Also on the mend is starter Jeff Samardzija, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list July 15 with shoulder inflammation. It was his third time being placed on the 10-day disabled list this season. He received a plasma-rich platelet (PRP) injection July 16 and threw off a mound today, but it is still unclear what Samardzija’s expected return date is.