Cobb, DeSclafani back soon, but not Boyd
PITTSBURGH — Just as the San Francisco Giants are about to get two starting pitchers back from the injured list, their rotation depth got some bad news: Left-hander Matthew Boyd was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain after leaving his throwing session Tuesday.
Boyd, who is coming back from flexor tendon surgery, will not throw for four weeks. The Giants had hoped to get him back in July, but late August seems like the earliest possibility. There is a chance Boyd, signed to a one-year, $5.2 million deal, might not pitch this year.
“He’s very disappointed,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “I don’t think that any of these rehabs are perfect by any stretch. It always seems like there’s some discomfort . ... This one I acknowledge is a little bit more significant. A flexor strain is a real injury and I think it moves his timeline significantly. And for a guy who worked very hard to put himself in a position to come back in late June, it’s going to be challenging.”
Alex Cobb will come off the IL on Sunday after missing the minimum 15 days with neck stiffness, and Anthony DeSclafani (ankle) might start one of the games at Atlanta next week. In his second rehab start, DeSclafani allowed five hits, two walks and four runs (three earned) and struck out two in 22⁄3 innings at Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.
Teams must trim pitching staffs to 13 by Monday; the Giants are among a handful currently at 13 — but they only have three regular starters plus Sam Long on the roster and Cobb and DeSclafani coming back. As good as Long has been in his most recent callup, he’s likely to be optioned back to Triple-A Sacramento to start stretching out in the event of a need, and reliever Mauricio Llovera is also a good bet to go to Sacramento.
DeSclafani is on the 60-day IL, as is outfielder Steven Duggar, who is also close to returning. So the team will need to trim two from the 40-man roster. Duggar is likely to be optioned to Sacramento, given how well left-handed-hitting outfielder Luis González has played.
Road Warrior: Outfielder Joc Pederson, the pride of Palo Alto, took advantage of the Giants’ off-night Thursday to go to Boston to watch the Warriors win the NBA championship.
“Joc is a superfan,” third baseman and bandwagon Warriors fan Evan Longoria said with admiration. “He puts in the effort.”
Pederson is a lifelong Warriors fan. He lived with Trayce Thompson (Warriors guard Klay’s brother) while with the Dodgers, and he’s gotten to know Warriors forward Draymond Green.
“To see the emotion those guys had after the game, it’s special,” Pederson said. “To accomplish that is not easy. They obviously started on a high and went to the NBA Finals and won three of them and then had some down years, then battled back after injuries and they aged a little bit. A lot of people didn’t believe that they were the team, but the whole time it just felt like they believe in themselves and that’s all that matters.
“To be able to win in playoffs like that, you have to have a tight-knit group of people who are pulling on the same string, and that’s hard to do for one year, let alone for four years. I was telling the people I went with, ‘You may never see anything like this again.’ This dynasty that they’ve put together is very Michael Jordan-esque.”
Pederson is no stranger to winning ways. He has played in 79 postseason games, including in four World Series, and he has been part of the past two title teams.
“Different sport, obviously, but it takes a special focus and group of guys to be able to come together and overcome different situations when you’re down in the playoffs; you see how much work and dedication goes into that.
“Those emotions are real, and winning a championship is a priceless feeling. They all deserve it so much, and I’m really happy for them.”
Pederson’s brother, Champ, worked for the Warriors and earned a ring for his efforts one season; Champ, who has Down syndrome, now works for the Giants.