Longoria back on shelf

NEW YORK — The Giants made a couple of roster moves Tuesday, and when they were completed, third baseman Evan Longoria was back on the injured list.

Longoria had been placed on the COVID IL on Sunday, a move that was vaccine-related following a booster shot. On Tuesday, he was reinstated and put on the regular IL because of an injury: right hand contusion.

The two ILs have different boundaries. Players on COVID ILs are removed from the 40man roster. Procedurally, the Giants needed to place Longoria on the 40-man roster so that he could be placed on the regular IL.

And to create room on the 40-man roster for Longoria, Kevin Gausman was placed on the COVID IL, also vaccinerelated. Gausman still is on target to start Friday's game in Atlanta; he would come off the COVID IL, at which time the Giants would need to pull another player off the 40-man roster.

Another starter on the IL, Anthony DeSclafani (ankle inflammation), played catch before Tuesday's game, and the team hopes he can start in Atlanta this weekend. Johnny Cueto (right flexor strain) is slated to come off the IL on Wednesday and start against the Mets.

Longoria was hit on the hand by a pitch while swinging last Wednesday and hasn't played since then. He's having a tough time staying on the field, having been out more than two months with a shoulder injury and getting just 12 at-bats before getting shelved again.

The Giants have used the COVID IL several times this season, and the timing has been convenient so that players aren't necessarily missed — for instance, between starts.

Other players who have gone on the COVID IL include starter Logan Webb and relievers Jake McGee and Jay Jackson.

Scoreboard watching: The Giants, who've owned the majors' best record for most of the season, have kept an eye on the scoreboard and the standings. But not religiously, according to manager Gabe Kapler said.

“It's surprisingly easy to focus on the task at hand and mostly because it takes so much energy to get ready for every night's baseball game,” Kapler said. “It's fine to be aware of what's going on in the division and simultaneously still be focused on the step right in front of you.

“We look up at the scoreboard. I personally look up at the scoreboard. I know when other teams are winning and losing, but I'm not paying all that much attention to it. The intense rooting, that's not really happening, either. Mostly, we're really caught up with what we're trying to do on a nightly basis.

“I think if you do get caught up in the things that are happening around the league with too much focus and intensity, you get really burned out, and the season gets really long. I've

actually found it fairly easy to focus on what we're doing here every night.”