LOS ANGELES — Nonetheless unable to swing a bat nearly every week after dislocating his left pinky finger on a headfirst slide into second base, Giants outfielder Austin Slater was positioned on the injured listing earlier than Monday evening’s collection opener towards the Dodgers.
Slater hasn’t began a sport since injuring his finger final Tuesday, however he has entered as a pinch-runner and a defensive alternative, which means his IL stint was solely retroactive to Sunday. Reliever Yunior Marte, a participant supervisor Gabe Kapler singled out as a potential September call-up, was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and took Slater’s spot on the roster.
After changing Joc Pederson in left subject for the ninth inning on Saturday, Slater made a diving catch for the second-to-last out however landed on his injured hand and didn’t seem in Sunday’s sport.
Requested earlier than Sunday’s sport if an IL stint might nonetheless be within the playing cards for Slater, Kapler indicated it was unlikely.
“We’ve come a reasonably lengthy methods with Austin and hung in there,” Kapler mentioned. “It will in all probability make sense to see this by way of if we will. … In the end that is going to be a ache tolerance factor.”
Slater took swings within the batting cage Saturday, Kapler mentioned, “however in all probability not at a velocity the place we'd really feel snug having him pinch-hit in a sport.
“Clearly we’re with out Slates, which is a problem as a result of we have now 4 left-handed pitchers developing in a row probably. You at all times need Slates within the lineup and on the prime of the lineup when you may have him (towards lefties).”
Slater’s absence will probably be significantly noticeable throughout a stretch of video games that encompasses a swath of left-handed starters, starting Monday evening with Los Angeles southpaw Andrew Heaney. Heaney is scheduled to be adopted by two extra left-handers, Tyler Anderson and Clayton Kershaw, within the last two video games right here.
Kapler referred to as it a “problem” dealing with the stretch of lefties with out among the finest lefty mashers. Slater has an .809 OPS towards lefties this season, a 133 wRC+ that's 33% higher than the major-league common.
As an alternative, it was lately acquired Lewis Brinson main off and manning heart subject the previous two days.
“Brinson’s had some actually good success towards left-handed pitchers this yr on the minor league stage but in addition traditionally all through his profession,” Kapler mentioned Sunday. “It’s a very good alternative for him.”
Verify again for updates.