Yastrzemski back with Giants for their doubleheader with Nationals

The San Francisco Giants reinstated outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the 10-day injured list on Saturday morning ahead of their doubleheader at the Washington Nationals, the team announced in a release.

MLB’s doubleheader rules allow teams to carry 27 players on their rosters, thus there was no corresponding move with Yastrzemski’s activation.

A critical part of the Giants’ lineup, Yastrzemski landed on the injured list on June 3, two days after running into the wall at Oracle Park while pursuing a ball. The 30-year-old sprained his thumb in the collision.

Prior to landing on the shelf, Yastrzemski had been reasonably productive despite a .222 batting average. He has six home runs, 15 RBI, a .787 OPS and a 121 OPS+.

Yastrzemski isn’t the only player who rejoined the Giants’ roster in the Nation’s capital. On Friday afternoon, the team reinstated left-hander Caleb Baragar after he missed 10 games with elbow inflammation.

To make room for him, the Giants optioned infielder Thairo Estrada to Triple-A Sacramento.

Baragar has been excellent this season out of the bullpen, appearing in 21 games and limiting his ERA to just 0.52.

The Giants were also able to hold onto some of their pitching depth on Friday with lefty Scott Kazmir clearing waivers and getting sent back to Triple-A. An incredible comeback story, Kazmir pitched in a Major League game for the first time since 2016 when he delivered four innings of one-run ball on May 22.

However, after Kazmir allowed four earned runs in his next three innings, the Giants chose to designate him for assignment.

Unlike Kazmir, recently designated-for-assignment reliever Nick Tropeano did not clear waivers. He was claimed on Friday by the New York Mets. The 30-year-old Tropeano pitched six innings in four appearances for the Giants before he was DFA’ed and allowed just one run.

Tropeano signed a $1.1 million minor-league deal with the Giants in February.

DOUBLEHEADER PITCHING PLANS

After right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani delivered a two-hit, complete-game shutout on Friday night, the Giants will look to carry that pitching momentum into Saturday’s doubleheader.

San Francisco ace Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start the first of two seven-inning games before handing it over to the team’s bullpen for the second game.

Gausman has been spectacular this season, allowing just 11 earned runs in 77.2 innings. His 1.27 ERA ranks third in the Majors among qualified pitchers.

Thanks to a rainout and DeSclafani’s complete game, the Giants have not used their bullpen since Wednesday, which bodes well for a long day on Saturday.