Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
LaMonte Wade Jr.’s play made the Giants want to see more, but they won’t be able to for a few weeks.
After going 2-for-6 with a walk in his first three games as a Giant, the 27-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, the club announced before Wednesday’s series finale with the Reds at Oracle Park.
The Giants replaced him with another lefty-hitting outfielder, Steven Duggar the first to get the call-up.
Wade, who was promoted Sunday, felt the oblique begin to bother him Monday. He felt it again Tuesday while swinging, and an MRI scan showed a “moderate” strain, Kapler said. The manager thought it would take about two weeks to resolve, though oblique issues can be tricky (just ask Alex Dickerson).
Duggar and Wade have similar profiles, Wade the better plate discipline, Duggar the better outfielder and speed threat. The 27-year-old Duggar had an up-and-down spring training, but displayed impressive opposite-field power that he has yet to show at the major league level.
He has struggled to hit the past few years, but the reports of his play at the Giants’ alternate site were encouraging. Kapler talked to River Cats manager Dave Brundage before Tuesday’s play and said Duggar was “swinging the bat really well.” Afterward, Duggar added four hits in a scrimmage against the A’s, according to River Cats broadcaster Johnny Doskow.
Both Evan Longoria and Buster Posey were absent from the Giants’ getaway day lineup Wednesday afternoon. It’s a day game after a night game before Thursday’s off day, which is followed by 13 straight games. The Giants wanted to give both a breather.
The full lineup against righty Tyler Mahle:
1. Tommy La Stella, 3B
2. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
3. Alex Dickerson, LF
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Donovan Solano, 2B
6. Brandon Crawford, SS
7. Austin Slater, CF
8. Curt Casali, C
9. Johnny Cueto, P
The Giants have gone seven straight games without an error, their longest streak since July 16-22, 2019. The last time the Giants played eight-or-more consecutive games without committing an error was June 30-July 8, 2017 (eight games).