The SF Giants have officially dealt with the most games missed by players due to injury across MLB, and they are feeling it. It has seemed like when one player returns to the team, another is put on the injured list in his place. With the trade deadline come and gone and teams in a heated race for the post-season, having a full healthy roster is a valuable asset. Here are the Giants' latest updates on the timelines for their players currently on the injured list.
Starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 right elbow flexor strain (retroactive to July 27th), had a PRP injection with Dr. Ken Akizuki on August 6th. PRP injections, or platelet rich plasma injections, help heal damaged joints and can help alleviate pain while injuries heal.
"Got the news that the PRP injection went well, and that there is going to be some down time now." Kapler told reporters Sunday. "Don't want to rule anything out, obviously nothing is set in stone, but it's going to be a while."
Two doctors confirmed DeSclafani's Grade 1 diagnosis. As a result, Giants' Manager Gabe Kapler has said that he's shut down from throwing a baseball for a few weeks, likely missing most of August to the IL. This is DeSclafani's second time on the injured list this season after missing a stretch in July with shoulder fatigue.
Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, who had just started to hit his offensive stride in recent weeks, left a game against the Red Sox last week with hamstring tightness. Given Yastrzemski's history with this particular hamstring, his left, the Giants' training staff is likely to be exhibiting extreme amounts of caution. This is his third time on the IL with the same injury this season. The Giants have stated that he will continue his hitting, running, and throwing progressions this week in San Francisco while the team is in Anaheim.
Relief pitcher John Brebbia, who hit the 15-day injured list with a Grade 2 lat strain mid-June, is scheduled to throw a bullpen in San Francisco on Tuesday. Generally, the timeline for a return from such a strain is more than a month, and Brebbia seems to be recovering on schedule.
Prior to his injury, Brebbia had been a leading choice to open games for bulk-innings guys. To date this season, Brebbia has a 3.14 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 10 walks in 28.2 innings pitched (29 appearances). Brebbia has made eight starts, allowing just one run in nine innings pitched during those outings.
Outfielder Mitch Haniger was the Giants' biggest offseason acquisition; he unfortunately missed the beginning of the season to injury, then returned and was once again injured by a pitch mid-June. After a confirmed forearm fracture, Haniger received surgery on the right arm, and continues his throwing and hitting progressions.
Having made just one real trade deadline move, choosing instead to rely on the internal cavalry coming back from the injured list and up from the minor leagues, the SF Giants can't afford many more setbacks. Sitting 4.0 games back of the LA Dodgers for first place in the NL West, and 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the first National League wild card spot, they will have to hope that their players' timetables are met and rehab progressions continue as planned.
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