Núñez doubtful, but not ruled out, for wild-card roster.
NEW YORK — The Giants would be thrilled to have Eduardo Núñez on their roster for Wednesday’s wild card game, especially since the speedy third baseman stole 40 bases this season — and Mets righthander Noah Syndergaard allowed 48 thefts, the most of any major league pitcher.
But Giants manager Bruce Bochy made it sound doubtful that Núñez’s name would be on the roster he must submit at 10 a.m. EDT (7 a.m. PDT) on Wednesday.
Núñez hit on the field and did some light jogging. The expectation, though, is that Conor Gillaspie will start at third base.
“We’ll see where he’s at,” Bochy said. “So I can answer that better (Wednesday).”
Bochy did say he planned a similar roster construction to the 2014 N.L. wild card game at Pittsburgh, when he carried 10 pitchers. Indications were that Bochy would likely add an extra pitcher to that list, if he decides to carry Johnny Cueto in addition to Jeff Samardzija.
Cueto would be expected to start against the Cubs’ Jon Lester in the opener of an N.L. Division Series at Wrigley Field. But Bochy wouldn’t hold anyone back.
“You focus on today’s game,” Bochy said. “It is what it is. It’s do or die. That’s where you have to have your focus. There’s no point in looking ahead.” It’s a near certainty that Bochy will not take two esteemed veterans, Matt Cain and Jake Peavy, who became marginal members of the bullpen down the stretch. His bullpen is expected to include Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Derek Law, Hunter Strickland and George Kontos along with left-handers Will Smith, Steven Okert and Javier Lopez.
Another accomplished veteran, Joe Nathan, is considered a long shot.
It shouldn’t be hard for Bochy to pick 14 position players without a major omission, although finding a way to get third catcher Tony Sanchez on the roster could allow them to use Trevor Brown’s righthanded bat off the bench. More likely, they’ll have a bench with Brown, Kelby Tomlinson Ehire Adrianza, Gorkys Hernandez, Gregor Blanco and Jarrett Parker.
The Giants would be allowed to reconfigure and resubmit their roster for the Cubs series, in the event they get past the Mets.
Bochy acknowledged n that catcher Buster Posey has been more banged up than usual this season, dealing with a hand issue that has bothered him since May “along with some other little issues.”
Bochy again stumped for Posey to win his first Gold Glove award.
Neither Bochy nor n Mets manager Terry Collins would reveal their lineup for Wednesday’s game, but Bochy confirmed that he would stick with first baseman Brandon Belt in the No. 2 spot.
The Giants brought n their entire September roster including call-ups to New York, with the exception of infielder Gordon Beckham, who is ineligible for the postseason, and outfielder Mac Williamson, who reported to Arizona to begin his rehab work for a strained quadriceps.