Giants outfielder Darin Ruf has been placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain ahead of their series finale in San Diego.
Ruf hasn’t taken an at-bat since Sept. 19 against the Braves. His IL stint is backdated to Sept. 20, so he could return as early as the series finale against Arizona on Sept. 30.
Ruf has been with the team in San Diego. He has stretched in the outfield before games and has occasionally taken swings in the on-deck circle, only to get called back into the dugout in favor of another bench bat.
Ruf has hit 15 home runs on the year and recorded the fourth-best OPS on the Giants (.899). He’s been adept at taking pitchers deep into counts by putting strong swings on strikes and laying off balls.
In a corresponding move, San Francisco reinstated Alex Dickerson from the 10-day injured list. He’s recovered from a hamstring injury and homered in his last rehab game for the Sacramento River Cats.
The Giants had Dickerson on-hand in San Diego, indicating they knew the injured list was a possibility for Ruf. But they made the move about 45 minutes before first pitch, so Ruf being healthy enough to play likely was still a possibility.
With Dickerson, the Giants add more outfield depth and another left-handed hitting option. Jon Gray and Antonio Senzatela are two right-handed pitchers expected to start for the Rockies in the upcoming series in Coors Field. Thursday’s starter for the Padres, Yu Darvsh, is also right-handed.
Dickerson has hit .235 on the season, and 12 of his 13 home runs have come off righties.