Good news on Gausman emerges from the gloom
The Alex Dickerson coronavirus scare, the smoke in Seattle, Kevin Gausman’s elbow.
The Giants were looking at a triangle of pain heading into the final stretch, until team doctors saw the pictures from Gausman’s Monday MRI exam.
The test showed no structural damage to Gausman’s pitching elbow, taken after he felt discomfort for several days last week and was scratched in San Diego on Sunday.
Manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday the club was “confident” that Gausman can start one of the three games in Oakland this weekend. He did not say which.
“I think the Gausman news is the best news we could have gotten in the last 48 hours of all the things we’ve gotten news on,” Kapler said. “It’s great to hear there was no structural damage and that we can be at least encouraged that he can start in that Oakland series and down the stretch for us.
“Knowing that we have all of our starters intact right now, I know that’s something not every club can say.”
Kapler twice cautioned that the medical staff needs to make a final evaluation of the elbow before Gausman can face the A’s.
Gausman’s loss would have put a dent in the Giants’ playoff hopes, not to mention the playoffs should they get there. Notwithstanding his 4.05 ERA, the 29yearold has been one of the club’s most dominating starters.
Rotation shuffle: Kapler flopped his starters for the rescheduled Seattle series. Drew Smyly will start Wednesday night and Tyler Anderson on Thursday. That would put them on line to pitch the final two days of the season against the Padres.
The Giants will play four games in three days at Oracle Park the final weekend. Kapler was not ready to say whether Gausman or Johnny Cueto would be lined up to face the Padres. That depends on how Kapler sets the rotation for this weekend’s games in Oakland.
He said he and the staff are looking at different combinations that could change based on how the next few games go.
“We’re going to factor in everything, including pitchers’ usage in their last start, how far they go in their games, what they’re reporting how their bodies are feeling, upcoming opponents,” Kapler said. “There are a lot of variables here and we’re going to look at it from every angle.”
Kapler said he expects to keep Logan Webb in the rotation.
Briefly: The Giants will be the “road” team at Oracle Park on Wednesday night and Thursday. That also happened July 23, 2013, after the Giants had a July 4 game in Cincinnati rained out. The Giants lost the opener as the home team, then won the nightcap when they batted first. … Dickerson is expected to play Wednesday night, but he could be called away at any time for the birth of his son.