Samardzija feels ‘great’
LOS ANGELES — Jeff Samardzija took a big rehab step Monday, throwing about 30 pitches in a simulated outing at Dodger Stadium. He’s been out since July 15 on his third disabled-list stint this season, this one for shoulder inflammation.
“Arm felt great,” Samardzija said. “Increasing my workload every time out. Threw all the pitches, up and down, warmup. Now it’s just going to be about getting out on the mound, repeating the delivery, live hitters, and getting that pitch count up.”
Manager Bruce Bochy said, “Just watching him, that’s got to be the best he’s felt probably since before spring training. It looked like he was free and easy.”
If Samardzija has no shoulder pain Tuesday, he either will throw another sim game, with a higher pitch count, or receive a rehab assignment.
Belt update: Brandon Belt, who suffered a knee injury July 25, went 1-for-3 with a double Monday night in his second rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento, in Reno. If he feels good, he might rejoin the Giants in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Belt’s absence has opened some time for Austin Slater, who started at first base Monday, his 11th start there.
“You hate to have injuries,” Bochy said, “but the fact that Belt did go down allowed us to mix it up a little bit.”
Bochy said of Slater, “It’s a lot easier on a young player when he can get consistent at bats, and he’s going to get ’em in this series.”
Slater is hitting .286. He has a .408 on-base percentage since the All-Star break.
Booth moves: The Giants’ broadcast crew will sound different on this road trip, for three games in Cincinnati and the first game in New York against the Mets. Play-by-play duties will be handled by Rich Waltz, former Marlins’ caller who’s with MLB Network.
Jon Miller, who’ll get a break, and Dave Flemming, covering the Little League World Series, will miss those four games. Javier Lopez will handle commentary duties.
Briefly: Reliever Hunter Strickland is scheduled to pitch Tuesday and Wednesday in a rehab outing with Sacramento . ... Bochy, told that Henry Schulman, The Sporting Green’s Giants beat man, was on the “one-day DL” with a minor medical blip: “I think he should go on the 60-day.”