San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Matos, Teng called up as part of early roster shuffle
SAN DIEGO — The San Francisco Giants had to make a series of roster moves one game into the regular season.
Reliever Luke Jackson had an MRI exam and was placed on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain he sustained while throwing a pitch during a rough outing in Thursday’s game. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski left the team shortly after the game for the birth of his child; he was placed on the paternity list, which can be used for up to 72 hours.
“It’s a tough one. Whether it’s a few days — obviously, doesn’t look like it at this point. He had the same injury last year and was out for a bit,” manager Bob Melvin said of Jackson. “We need to take care of that right now. Hopefully it’s just the IL period. But who knows? You’re going to go through these through the course of the season and guys have to step up.”
Outfielder Luis Matos and pitching prospect Kai-Wei Teng were recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the gaps.
Matos was left off the Opening Day roster despite a strong spring performance because an outfield of Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto and Jung Hoo Lee with Austin Slater in reserve wouldn’t leave the rookie much playing time.
LaMonte Wade Jr. slotted into right field for Friday’s game against San Diego right-handed starter Joe Musgrove. Wade started 10 games in the outfield last year, and an occasional move out there gives the lineup versatility against righties. Melvin said Wade bought into playing the outfield more this season and looked to have reacclimated quickly during a spring outing in which he beat the sun to make a play in center field.
“It works well, too, if I pinchhit (Wilmer Flores) somewhere and Wade can go to the outfield,” Melvin said.
Matos will mostly pinch-hit and would likely pencil into the starting lineup against a lefthanded starter, but the Giants expect to face righty starters Dylan Cease and Michael King to finish out the series in San Diego. Melvin said Matos could start against Dodgers lefty James Paxton, who is a possibility to start Monday’s series opener in Los Angeles.
Teng, 25, had yet to make his major-league debut heading into Friday. He was expected to be used to pitch multiple innings. On an excitement scale of 1-to-10 to make his debut, the Taiwanese right-hander said he’s “at 15.” He didn’t appear in a Cactus League game as he was sent to minorleague camp midway through spring, but he pitched three innings in a minor-league spring game on Wednesday.
“I didn’t think it was going to come this quick,” Teng said through an interpreter. Teng said his family was “speechless” when he called them with the news.
Teng posted a 4.42 ERA with 164 strikeouts in 126⁄ innings, 1
3 split between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento last season.
— Blake Snell was scheduled to pitch in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday night and could make his Giants debut in Los Angeles. Alex Cobb, rehabbing after offseason hip surgery, pitched a cumulative five innings — around 54 pitches with five strikeouts — in a minor-league game on Thursday. His next steps are to be determined.