Bumgarner in lieu of DH?

A Madison Bumgarner start in an American League park creates intrigue. Will manager Bruce Bochy let Bumgarner bat?

The answer was always no until June 30, 2016, when Bochy ceded the designated hitter in Oakland and wrote Bumgarner into the ninth spot in the lineup, the first time a team had used a pitcher instead of a DH in 40 years.

Bumgarner doubled and scored in the Giants’ 12-6 win.

He is not expecting to hit again when he pitches Saturday.

“I haven’t talked to him, but I don’t think I will be,” Bumgarner said Friday. “I feel we’ve got plenty of guys. We were running a little short at the time,” meaning the bench in 2016. Bumgarner did not pitch in Oakland last year.

Bumgarner has not gotten untracked at the plate since his return from a broken hand. After hitting .206 with three homers last year, he has one single in 18 at-bats in 2018. He did hit into two hard outs in his final first-half start against the A’s on July 13. Like any hitter, he said, he feels more comfortable with more at-bats.

“I think more than anything it’s repetition,” he said. “I didn’t hit much when I was rehabbing.”

Longoria timetable: Evan Longoria could be activated as early as Tuesday, less than seven weeks after a Dan Straily pitch in Miami fractured his glove hand.

Longoria went 2-for-3 with an RBI double Friday in his first rehab game for Triple-A Sacramento. He played five innings on defense and is expected to play seven Saturday. The Giants will use Monday’s off day to assess whether the third baseman is ready to return for Tuesday’s series opener in Seattle.

Belt out: First baseman Brandon Belt started the second half on paternity leave awaiting the birth of his and wife Haylee’s second son.

To replace him, the Giants recalled Ryder Jones from Sacramento. Jones started at third base in his first big-league game this season. He hit .173 in 150 at-bats as a rookie last year and was hitting .299 with nine homers for the River Cats.

Machado reaction: Bochy reacted to a question about the Dodgers’ acquisition of Manny

Machado the way he always does when asked about another team’s move. He always says the Giants need to worry about themselves.

This time he expressed it more emphatically, saying, “We’ve got to pick it up over here. Playing a couple games over .500 is not going to work.”

Panik update: Second baseman Joe Panik (groin strain) took batting practice and could begin his rehab assignment next week.