Giants face Rays with losses, injuries mounting

The San Francisco Giants found their offense but now are looking for a third baseman as they continue their three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

After placing Matt Chapman on the 10-day injured list before Friday's 7-6 loss in the series opener, the Giants lost replacement Casey Schmitt to a bruised forearm in the eighth inning, the result of him being hit by a pitch.

Schmitt, who had been the starting second baseman of late, was replaced at third by Christian Koss, who was Friday's starting second baseman. Tyler Fitzgerald took over for Koss at second after pinch running for Schmitt.

Giants manager Bob Melvin noted afterward that the pitch from Edwin Uceta had "gotten (Schmitt) pretty good" on the bone and that Schmitt likely will miss the rest of the series.

Chapman had started 96 of the Giants' first 121 games at third base, missing time in June and July with a sprained right hand. It appears the wear and tear of an injury not fully healed resulted in inflammation, prompting a cortisone shot and the move to the injured list.

"Look, he's a pretty tough guy," Melvin said before the game. "During the course of the season, you're gonna play through some stuff. I think some days (were) probably worse than others. We've got to the point where we needed to take a look at it."

Schmitt hit .303 as Chapman's replacement at third base over 18 games. Four others have given it a shot, including Koss, but none for more than parts of nine games.

After Koss was hit to load the bases with no outs in the eighth inning of a 6-6 tie Friday, the Giants failed to score. Then, coincidentally, San Francisco reliever Randy Rodriguez nailed Tampa Bay's Nick Fortes with his fifth pitch of the ninth, from which the visitors took advantage to push across the difference-making run.

Picked up at the trade deadline from the Miami Marlins, Fortes has accepted a role as a backup catcher and assures he's just happy to be playing -- or sometimes watching -- meaningful games. He went to high school in DeLand, Fla.

"I love this organization. I've been watching them my whole life," Fortes told reporters this week. "It's super-surreal. To be able to contribute, to win and to help this playoff push here at the very end of the year, it's pretty cool."

Seeking to end a six-game losing streak, the Giants will hand the ball on Saturday to right-hander Justin Verlander (1-9, 4.53 ERA), who has gotten two or fewer runs of support in 11 of his 20 starts. The Giants have gone 5-15 in his starts, losing the past three.

The 42-year-old hasn't opposed the Rays since May 2023. He's gone 10-5 against them with a 3.45 ERA in 21 lifetime starts.

The Rays will counter with another pitcher looking to make a favorable impression on a new team, right-hander Adrian Houser (6-4, 2.84). He will make his third straight road start since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox last month.

The 32-year-old threw a gem at the Giants for the White Sox in June, shutting them out on four hits over seven innings in a 1-0 home win. He's 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in four career outings (two starts) against San Francisco.

- Field Level Media