SF Giants place RHP Anthony DeSclafani on IL, activate OF Mike Yastrzemski
The SF Giants activated outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the injured list on Monday, infusing manager Gabe Kapler's lineup with a much-needed reinforcement prior to the Giants' final series before the All-Star break. However, the Giants placed right-handed starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 2nd) with right shoulder fatigue in his place. Yastrzemski has been out since June 23rd when he was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain.
SF Giants OF Mike Yastrzemski watches his walk-off homer against the Padres. (2023)
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Yaz had hoped to avoid a stint on the injured list because the injury was fairly mild, but the Giants opted to give him some extra rest. Yastrzemski appeared in a pair of games at Triple-A Sacramento on a rehab assignment, going 0-for-5 with two walks, a hit batsman, and four strikeouts across two games.
Yastrzemski has hit .259/.324/.482 with 12 doubles, a triple, and ten home runs in 55 games this season. Yaz has arguably been the Giants' most consistent player since he joined the team in 2019. In fact, he is the only player on the roster who has hit double-digit home runs in each of the past five seasons. However, as has been the case for many players on the Giants, Yastrzemski has struggled to stay on the field this season and has already had a couple of stints on the injured list with hamstring injuries.
Any injury for a pitcher, particularly on their throwing shoulder, is a notable cause for concern. Granted, the 33-year-old DeSclafani does not have a notable history of arm injuries. DeSclafani has faded after an excellent start to the season. He has a 4.44 ERA (4.12 FIP) in 17 starts with 72 strikeouts and 18 walks in 93.1 innings pitched this season. However, he has a 6.02 ERA (4.68 FIP) over his last 11 appearances. The Giants have also been limiting his workload recently. In fact, he threw just 55 pitches in his most recent start.
The SF Giants continue hoping to get healthy, but the nature of a 162-game season makes that notion often impossible. On Monday, Kapler will be happy to welcome Mike Yastrzemski back to the lineup, but will have to make do without Anthony DeSclafani for the next two weeks.
