Giants to Be Without Key Slugger for Series Against Reds

The Giants' offense must manage without a key player in the middle.

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello (23) walks back to the dugout. Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The San Francisco Giants season is fully about planning for the future. Barely staying out of last place in the NL West division, the Giants head back home to Oracle Park, looking to get back in the win column, even if it doesn't make a dent in the standings.

Dropping four straight and being swept by the Boston Red Sox this past weekend, the Giants head back to San Francisco to host the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series. The Giants haven't won a series since taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers between July 27 and 29.

However, to break the losing streak, Tony Vitello's offense will be missing a crucial member typically penciled in the middle of the lineup.

Bryce Eldridge to be Away From Giants

San Francisco Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge (8) hits an RBI single at Fenway Park. Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Shayna Rubin, rookie first baseman Bryce Eldridge won't be featured for the Giants this series against the Reds. Eldridge will be traveling to Virginia to attend his grandfather's funeral and will be placed on the bereavement list ahead of the series opener.

Major League Baseball's bereavement leave is a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days. It's unknown as of now when Eldridge will return, but he'll likely make an appearance for the Giants in the four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks that follows the three games against the Reds.

Eldridge has been one of the biggest bright spots for San Francisco this season, posting a .252 batting average with 14 home runs and driving in 35 RBIs. Over the weekend in Boston, Eldridge collected four hits, two of which came in the series finale, extending his hitting streak to four games after collecting a hit against the Cleveland Guardians in that series finale.

His hit streak will remain intact until he returns to the franchise and steps into the batter's box, but for the first-base role this series, it will likely be a coin flip. Rafael Devers will likely be the first baseman for the series, but fans shouldn't be surprised if Buddy Kennedy is penciled in to play the position as well.

The Giants haven't found themselves on luck's side this season, as a big seven-game homestand might not feature some of the best hitters this San Francisco team still has to offer. Both Willy Adames and Victor Bericoto were removed from the series finale against Boston due to injuries.