It was mid-August when Anthony DeSclafani first started to feel his right ankle — the one he pushes off the rubber with — flare up. He lasted just 1.1 innings against the New York Mets at home, then missed a start on the injured list.
But the Giants were pursuing the National League West crown, and DeSclafani wasn’t going to let them do it without him. He kept pitching, with diminished velocity and to more inconsistent results. The ankle kept barking.
The discomfort subsided during the offseason and the Giants’ 32-year-old righty thought the injury was in the rearview. But it returned this spring training and worsened with his first three starts, and now he’s on the 10-day injured list with right ankle inflammation. He consulted with a specialist in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Monday.
“It’s nice to know what’s going on, stuff like that,” DeSclafani said Tuesday from the Giants clubhouse.
There’s no structural damage and no surgery required, the doctor said. No cortisone shots required. Just weakened and damaged ligaments.
Doctors recommended DeSclafani rest for two-to-three weeks. That time will include lots of time heating, icing, and ultra-sounding his ankle to get his arm back in action. The “modalities.”
“All the gadgets they’ve got in there, what they spend money on to make us feel better,” DeSclafani said.
DeSclafani hopes to return to throwing in about a week, but everything will depend on how his ankle reacts to rest. The Giants are also currently without starter Alex Cobb (right abductor strain), but overcame two missed spots in the rotation by winning two bullpen games — one against Washington, another Monday in Milwaukee.
“I feel like that’s the Giants, right? It’s just like last year. Every time someone went down, people stepped right in and took over for whoever was hurt and contributed. And probably made a name for themselves, too.”
- Kervin Castro was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of Tuesday’s game. His call-up is in response to Zack Littell heading to the injured list. Littell wasn’t listed as out with a specific injury, which is often the practice for COVID-involved roster moves. Mike Yastrzemski tested positive for COVID-19 in Washington, where he is quarantining, and multiple Giants had to get tested as close contacts of his.
- Castro was excellent in 2021, throwing 13.1 scoreless innings in pivotal games. His fastball-curveball mix fooled hitters who likely didn’t have much intel on him.
- Evan Longoria remains optimistic he’s on schedule for the original four-to-six week timetable from his finger surgery. He fielded ground balls and threw them at least 60 feet during pregame workouts.