SF Giants lose key bullpen piece as starting rotation gets healthier
RHP John Brebbia (lat strain) was placed on the 15-day IL, clearing space for LHP Alex Wood, who was activated and started vs. LAD.
LOS ANGELES — The Giants activated one member of their starting rotation from the injured list Saturday but lost a key piece of their bullpen.
Right-hander John Brebbia was placed on the 15-day IL with a lat strain in his throwing shoulder. The move cleared space on the roster to activate lefty Alex Wood, who fills one of two vacant spots in the Giants’ rotation and was scheduled to start Saturday in their second game against the Dodgers.
Infielder Wilmer Flores, who fouled a pitch off his left foot Friday, was also placed on the 10-day IL, with right-hander Tristan Beck taking his roster spot to provide some relief to a bullpen that used eight pitchers to cover 11 innings in the 7-5 win. Flores completed the at-bat, even hitting a two-run home run, but was removed from the game and tests revealed a contusion on the foot but no structural damage.
Brebbia, who started Friday’s bullpen game in his eighth appearance as an opener this season, will be eligible to return July 2. Manager Gabe Kapler, however, was not able to provide a timeline, and scans revealed a Grade 2, or moderate, strain, which often indicates an absence longer than the minimum 15 days.
“Really disappointing for John (and) for us,” Kapler said. “He’s a pretty reliable dude at the backend of our bullpen and also, how many games has he opened for us? An absolute pro. Really disappointed for John. He’s a really important part of what we’re doing around here. We really love him.”
Brebbia threw a scoreless first inning in Friday night’s extra-inning win, his 13th time in 15 appearances since the start of May without allowing a run, but returned to the dugout and informed Kapler and the training staff that he was feeling some discomfort. Brebbia led the National League in appearances in 2022 and had appeared in the third-most games among Giants relievers this season, with a 3.14 ERA in 29 games, including a 1.15 mark since the start of May.
In better news, J.D. Davis (right ankle sprain) said he expected to be available to pinch-hit Saturday after being no more than a decoy in Friday’s game. After going through pregame drills, he said he was able to run at about 80%, as opposed to about 30% the night before, and that his swing was no longer compromised, though he was still experiencing some difficult ranging to his right on defense.
A prime pinch-hit opportunity presented itself Friday night, with Joc Pederson set to face lefty Alex Vesia, but Kapler kept Davis on the bench. Davis said he could have hit but would have had to be replaced by a pinch-runner, and the Giants’ bench was already growing thin; Kapler said Davis wasn’t an option after expressing some reservations in the batting cage.
“Yeah, I mean, every time a big spot came up, I was like, man I wish we had J.D.,” Kapler said. “He just wasn’t available enough.”
Mitch Haniger was also back with the team Saturday, in high spirits after undergoing successful surgery on Thursday. With his right arm in a sling, Haniger confirmed he had a plate and six screws inserted into his right forearm, “which sounded like a lot to me, but I trust the doctor,” he added.