What can the Giants expect out of Mike Yastrzemski in return vs. Padres?

After being held out of the starting lineup for the last seven games due to a right calf strain, Mike Yastrzemski will lead off and play right field against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday.

Yastrzemski spent the early portion of the week playing catch, hitting in the cage and running the bases and was finally able to come off the bench as a pinch-hitter in Thursday’s 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Rockies.

The second-year outfielder’s availability to start against the Padres provides the Giants with a much-needed reinforcement for a team that’s lost four of its last seven games.

“It wasn’t an ideal situation to go down in the timeframe that I did, so I wanted to get back as soon as possible, but at the same time be smart about it, because I want to be able to play a few more weeks not a few more days,” Yastrzemski said.

Yastrzemski has been one of the Giants’ most valuable players this season and is a front-runner to win the Willie Mac Award, which will be presented to the team’s most inspirational player on Saturday. It’s clear his absence has affected the team’s lineup, but he’ll return to play on what could be the most important day of the 2020 regular season.

With a 28-28 record and two games against the San Diego Padres, the Giants have an opportunity to take a huge step forward in their quest to clinch a National League wild card berth. On the flip side, a pair of losses against a Padres team that’s already secured the No. 4 seed in the postseason could crush the Giants’ playoff chances and leave the team in desperation mode heading into the final two games of the season.

Manager Gabe Kapler said he’s uncertain whether Yastrzemski will be available for Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader, but the Giants outfielder is ready to push himself in an effort to push the Giants toward October.

Yastrzemski is batting .283 with a .939 OPS this season and has recorded 72 base hits in 158 career major league games. The outfielder said it’s unlikely he’ll sprint unless a situation calls for him to do so, but also indicated his calf has not bothered him over the last several days.

“Running is going to be situational, I’m not going to be busting it down the line when I hit a routine flyball,” Yastrzemski said. “But when it comes down to game-changing plays, I’m going to just give everything I have in the tank right now.”

With Yastrzemski starting in right field in Game 1 on Friday, the Giants will have Mauricio Dubón in center field and Alex Dickerson in left against Padres right-hander Chris Paddack. Darin Ruf, Daniel Robertson and Steven Duggar will all be available to play the outfield off the bench.

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