Logan Webb joked last week that he felt more like he’s playing on the prospects’ team than they’ve joined his San Francisco Giants‘ team, and Sunday, the equation shifted even further toward youth.
Rafael Devers, who played in all but one of the Giants’ previous 149 games this season, went on the 60-day IL with a core-muscle injury Sunday and Scott Bandura made his big-league debut in the DH spot and batting fifth. Seven members of the lineup weren’t on the Opening Day roster and five weren’t even in big-league camp. Jung Hoo Lee was the only player in that lineup and in Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the Padres.
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This is some next-level changeover, most of it injury related. A lot of the Giants’ payroll is now shelved, with Devers, Matt Chapman (also a core-muscle injury), Willy Adames (elbow) and Harrison Bader (foot) all out. Add in starter Adrian Houser (forearm), and that’s five of the team’s top seven highest-paid players out of action – $100-million plus worth of payroll on the IL, in essence. Devers, though, is the biggie, especially given his torrid power pace of late, with 11 homers in 18 games; he’s making $27 million this year.
The team had three rookies in the lineup (Bryce Eldridge, Jonah Cox and Bandura), two waiver-wire claims (Shay Whitcomb and Brett Harris), and minor-league free agent Andrew Knizner, who hit a two-run homer in the second.
Bandura, with parents Steve and Robin in attendance after flying in from Philadelphia, picked up his first big-league hit on an infield single in the sixth and eventually scored on Christian Koss‘ two-out single. He leads the organization as a whole in runs this season – adding in Sunday’s, he’s at 105.
Like Cox and Turner Hill, Bandura wasn’t in big-league camp and he started the season at Double-A Richmond. He’s the 16th Giants player to make his big-league debut this season, tying the 2008 franchise record.
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Manager Tony Vitello said that Bandura will get a start in the outfield Monday at St. Louis. Bandura can play all three spots but right field is considered his best, per Vitello.
Webb didn’t enjoy his best day, allowing five runs in the first two innings and six altogether in his five innings of work. He gave up eight hits, including Manny Machado‘s two-run homer in the second, and over his past five outings, the All-Star has a 9.55 ERA.
Webb repeatedly has said he is not fatigued, although he had the added degree of difficulty of preparing for and pitching in the WBC during spring training. Webb also led the league in innings pitched each of the previous three seasons. His insistence on continuing to pitch is admirable but no one would blink if the team shut him down to get him some extra rest.
The Giants had some opportunities to tie things up, loading the bases with one out in the fourth against Nick Pivetta but coming away empty. The team went 2-for-12 with men in scoring position and stranded eight runners.
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San Diego swept the three-game series, and the Giants now head on their final road trip, first to Vitello’s hometown of St. Louis on the heels of San Francisco sweeping the Cardinals at Oracle Park last week. Then the Giants go to first-place Los Angeles before returning to wrap up the final week of the season at home. They must win one of the final 12 games to avoid losing 100.
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This article originally published at Another Giants rookie debuts, tying a franchise record, but Padres sweep S.F..
