Starter will meet with Tommy John surgeon
Dr. James Andrews, noted sports orthopedist, has offices in Birmingham, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla., conveniently located near Atlanta.
Though the Giants were not prepared to share their findings from Johnny Cueto’s elbow MRI exam Wednesday, manager Bruce
Bochy confirmed that Cueto is expected to see Andrews during their visit to Atlanta this weekend, which speaks to the severity of the injury.
Pitchers do not visit Dr. Andrews to discuss inflammation.
Before the Giants pummeled the Padres 9-4 to end a 7-3 homestand, Bochy said Cueto will get “two or three” opinions. Asked if the Giants had ruled out a torn ulnar-collateral ligament, the Tommy John injury, Bochy said, “I don’t think you rule out anything. That’s why you look at the MRI and get different opinions.”
In other words, do not expect any shimmies on the mound soon.
Until Madison Bumgarner returns, probably in mid-June, the rotation likely will consist of two experienced pitchers who have been shaky ( Jeff Samardzija, Derek Holland) and three relative tenderfoots (Ty Blach, Chris Stratton, Andrew Suarez).
The road ahead will not be easy, figuratively or literally, as the Giants visit three teams — the Braves, Phillies and Pirates — who own winning records.
“I think we’re in a very good position because our young guys are very talented,” catcher Nick Hundley said. “It’s our job, me and Buster, to make them comfortable and cultivate that ability and that talent. You liken it to a chef. The kitchen is full. We have a lot to work with. We’re really excited about that.”
Hundley caught in place of Buster Posey and had a careertype day at the plate, tormenting his original team again after he beat them with a pinch single in the ninth Monday night.
Hundley singled, doubled and homered in his first three at-bats, against left-hander Clayton Richard, and had two shots to become the first San Francisco catcher to hit for the cycle. When he batted in the sixth against Robbie Erlin, he slammed his second double of the game off the wall in leftcenter.
Asked if he was thinking triple, Hundley said, “Yeah, then I almost got thrown out at second.”
The Giants won a series against San Diego for the second time since the 2016 All-Star break. They also have won four consecutive series for the first time since just before that break.
The Giants went 16-15 during a season-opening stretch that looked like trouble on paper.
“We could have gotten buried after losing Bum,” Bochy said. “Johnny’s been on the disabled list twice. (Hunter) Pence is on the DL. It could have gotten away from us. We’ve played with a lot of heart.”
During the winning homestand, the Giants finally started to hit with runners in scoring position. Austin Jackson and Brandon Crawford, who really struggled, have looked better. Each had a two-run hit Wednesday. Andrew McCutchen singled during a three-run first inning, then was hit flush on the left elbow by a Richard pitch in the second. In the dugout, it sounded as though the ball hit the bat.
McCutchen left the game and was diagnosed with an elbow bruise. X-rays were negative. Bochy hopes McCutchen can play Friday.
Now, the medical staff will try to assess Cueto’s future: surgery or rehab. Bochy said the fact he could not provide any specifics speaks to the complexity of the decision.
As the Giants move deeper into May, with Bumgarner and Cueto gone, they will need the offense to remain consistent as the remaining pitchers step up their games, all while avoiding the woe-are-we trap when they hit an inevitable skid.
“Even the guys who are hurt, make them feel like they’re part of the team. Don’t let them walk around feeling like they’re a ghost,” Holland said after his first Giants win. “We’ve got to keep everybody on a positive mind-set. Keep plugging away despite what’s going on.”