SF Giants: Wade out of lineup, Jackson to IL, Ross Stripling reinstated
The Giants added starter Ross Stripling back into the pitching mix, with Luke Jackson going on IL. LaMonte Wade Jr. out of starting lineup because of back issue.
SAN FRANCISCO — First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. was out of the lineup Sunday with lower back stiffness and was spotted in the clubhouse with a cold pack wrapped around his waist and back.
Wade didn’t finish Saturday’s win over Arizona, and Kapler was keeping him off his feet with hopes that an off day before the club visits the Toronto Blue Jays will be enough recovery time to get back in the lineup.
“We’re going to try and get him ready to come off the bench,” Kapler said.
Wade has been bothered by both his back and his side, with Sunday’s issue related mostly to his back.
“I think they’re all sort of related, but yesterday was lower back tightness,” Kapler said.
Relief pitcher Luke Jackson, who departed in the same game with lower back stiffness, will need a little more time. Jackson was placed on the 15-day injured list with the Giants activating starting pitcher Ross Stripling.
In other health updates, pitcher Alex Cobb came through a rehab assignment in San Jose and Kapler said the hope is he will start one of the Giants’ three games against the Mets in New York June 30-July 2.
Cobb, 5-2 with a 3.09 earned run average, on the injured list and recovering from an oblique strain. He struck out nine batters in 3 2/3 innings Saturday for the Class A San Jose Giants. Stripling also had a strong San Jose rehab performance, striking out 10 batters in less than four innings.
“Maybe there’s a friendly competition in there somewhere,” Kapler said.
Matos mingles with fans
It was a little before 10 a.m. when Luis Matos was heading in to Oracle Park with his suitcase roller bag carrying his clothes for the club’s flight to Toronto immediately after Sunday’s game against Arizona.
Matos, 20, wore nothing that identified him as a member of the Giants, but has already gained some momentum with the fan base after just 10 games. It didn’t hurt that on Saturday, Matos hit his first career home run, a line shot over the left field fence.
A group of fans approached Matos, with one woman producing a sign she asked Matos to sign. Matos chatted with the fans for a few minutes before heading in to prepare to bat eighth and start in center field.
“I makes me feel really good, Matos said through the Giants’ Spanish language translator. “It feels good to know they recognize me, they’re on top of whatever I do, and knowing that motivates me to do well on the field. I know they’re paying for a ticket to go in and see me so it’s always good for me to give my best.”
Matos said he has already befriended stadium employees that work down the left field line where his home run landed.
“There is a group of people that work there, security guards and everything,” Matos said. “Every time I walkt here, they would always tell me, Make sure you hit a home run.' And I would tell them, `it’s coming.’ I hit it yesterday and the fans were congratulating me.”
Kapler said the Giants are still in the process of getting to know Matos, who looks as if he’ll be in the big leagues awhile.
“He’s quiet. His personality, we’re learning about it,” Kapler said. “We’re learning about him as a player, we’re learning abou thim as a teammate and a professional in the clubhouse. So far, so good. I don’t really have much to share because it’s so early on. We’ll get to know him over the years.”
Schmitt waits his turn
Rookie Casey Schmitt has not played in the Arizona series and was not in the lineup Sunday.
Schmitt has played 23 games at shortstop, 13 games at third base and seven at second base since being recalled but the Giants are faring well at those positions with existing starters J.D. Davis (third base), Brandon Crawford (short) and Thairo Estrada (second base).
“The No. 1 reason Casey is not playing regularly right now is we have three other players in those positions playing really well,” Kapler said. “Playing time has been, and will always be earned. I’ve never been around a manager that doesn’t want to keep pushing players that are performing well into the lineup.”