The Giants introduced this night that they’ve positioned infielders Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores on the 10-day injured record. Estrada was despatched to the shelf with a left wrist sprain and the latter was shelved with knee tendonitis. In corresponding strikes, the membership has referred to as up infielder Tyler Fitzgerald and activated first baseman Lamonte Wade Jr. from the 10-day injured record.
It’s been a troublesome yr on the plate for each Estrada and Flores, each of whom have posted below-average offensive numbers after being among the many membership’s most efficient gamers final yr. On the heels of a 3.6 fWAR season the place he posted improbable defensive metrics and a 101 wRC+, Estrada has hit simply .231/.264/.376 in 311 journeys to the plate this yr regardless of practically equivalent peripheral numbers to his 2023 marketing campaign. Whereas his .259 batting common on balls in play might initially seem like a transparent indication that constructive regression might be on the way in which for the 28-year-old, it’s price noting that the infielder’s .279 wOBA really outpaces his anticipated determine of .270.
As for Flores, the 32-year-old was coming off a improbable 2023 marketing campaign in a semi-regular position with the membership final yr the place he slashed .284/.355/.509 (136 wRC+) in 454 journeys to the plate whereas splitting time between first, second, and third base in addition to the DH slot. Flores has discovered himself in an analogous position up to now within the Giants’ season, albeit one which has seen him play first base nearly solely whereas Wade was on the shelf. Flores’s plate self-discipline numbers are nonetheless wonderful, as he’s walked at an 8.8% clip whereas putting out simply 13.2% of the time, however he’s seemingly utterly misplaced his energy stroke. After crushing 23 house runs final yr, he’s hit simply 4 in 227 journeys to the plate this season as his barrel charge has dipped from 7.8% to simply 5.7% this yr.
It’s not at present clear how lengthy both participant figures to be out of motion, however the stays on the shelf ought to supply each veterans the chance to reset forward of the second half, the place each they and the Giants will certainly be hoping for higher outcomes. Wade’s activation from the IL makes him a reasonably clear substitute for Flores at first base, though it’s considerably trickier for the membership to exchange Estrada.
Brett Correctly and Nick Ahmed had been performing as a platoon tandem at shortstop whereas Estrada manned the keystone each day, however with Fitzgerald getting into the combination it’s much less clear how that enjoying time will shake out. The 26-year-old has hit a good .273/.333/.409 in 28 video games with the Giants up to now within the yr, however he has simply 106 whole plate appearances beneath his belt since making his large league debut final season. It seems seemingly that Ahmed might see an uptick in enjoying time at shortstop as Correctly takes some begins at second base, whereas Fitzgerald might combine in at each positions along with the outfield and first base in a utility position.
Tonight’s information isn’t completely bleak for the Giants, as they’ll absolutely be excited to return Wade to the beginning lineup. The 30-year-old has been on the shelf since late Could because of a hamstring pressure however was among the many best possible hitters in all of baseball this yr on the time of his damage. He’ll return to the beginning lineup with a improbable .333/.470/.426 slash line (166 wRC+) that makes up for the relative lack of energy with an eye-popping 19.9% stroll charge. If Wade manages to play at something near that degree going ahead this season, he’ll absolutely present a significant shot within the arm for a Giants offense that has ranked simply twentieth within the majors with a 97 wRC+ since Wade was positioned on the shelf.