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The Giants boosted their outfield on Saturday and could add some bullpen help this week.
Mike Yastrzemski was reinstated from the injured list and represented the 27th man in the doubleheader in Washington, while righty John Brebbia is expected to pitch in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday, which would clear a final hurdle.
First, Yastrzemski: The lefty-hitting outfielder could be added without a corresponding move because of Thursday’s rainout, and the club will need to make a decision Sunday. At the moment and including Yaz, San Francisco has 13 position players and 14 pitchers on the 26-man roster, and the guess is the club sends down or out a reliever.
Curt Casali, too, could be activated Saturday, which likely would bump Chadwick Tromp down to Triple-A after the 26-year-old impressed in a couple big-league games.
Yastrzemski is playing right and batting second in the first game at Nationals Park, one-third of an outfield that includes Mike Tauchman (in center) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (in left). The first odd lefty out is Steven Duggar, though he should see time on a day that will have a minimum of 14 innings.
Brebbia, meanwhile, has thrown six innings in a rehab assignment 12 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old has allowed two runs (3.00 ERA) and struck out 10 with a 0.667 WHIP. His fastball is again in the mid-90s, and reports on the righty have been “great,” Kapler said.
It’s possible the Giants would give him a bit more time after the back to back, but he should be ready soon.
“Strike-throwing, efficiency, swings and misses — all good stuff,” the manager said over Zoom.
The Giants have been lacking in their bullpen really all season, although they now are seeing if Dominic Leone and Jimmie Sherfy can be righty solutions. Brebbia was a consistently solid reliever in three season with the Cardinals, with whom he posted a 3.14 ERA in 175 innings from 2017-19. The Giants took a flier on him this offseason, willing to pay for the rehab so he could be a midseason option.
The Giants’ lineup against Washington’s Erick Fedde:
1. LaMonte Wade Jr., LF
2. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
3. Buster Posey, C
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Brandon Crawford, SS
6. Wilmer Flores, 2B
7. Mike Tauchman, CF
8. Jason Vosler, 3B
9. Kevin Gausman, RHP
While Gausman is starting Game One, there is no official Game Two starter. Kapler said the relievers used in the first leg will determine the second. Conner Menez, who has not allowed a run in eight innings, is probably the best suited to take down a few innings in a bullpen game.