LOS ANGELES — As the Giants opened the second half of their season here Thursday, one locker was noticeably present in the visitor’s clubhouse while one was absent.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford opted to join the team here, despite not being eligible to come off the injured list until the next leg of this trip, Tuesday in Arizona. Meanwhile, Tommy La Stella is still away from the team after being placed on the COVID list almost two weeks ago, on July 8.
Crawford (left knee inflammation) spent the All-Star break a short drive from here, in Newport Beach, so he consulted with head trainer Dave Groeschner and set up a plan to continue his rehab on the road, rather than at the Giants’ facilities in San Francisco or Arizona, as is usually the case.
Before the game Thursday, Crawford resumed some light baseball activities for the first time since landing on the IL for the second time this season with the same knee issue. Five days of rest has him feeling better, he said, but the knee only acts up while playing and he hasn’t been able to test it under those circumstances. Before departing for the break on Sunday, Crawford said he received a cortisone shot in his knee.
La Stella, whose test results the Giants have declined to share, will begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He hasn’t appeared in a game — or been with the team — since July 7, the day before he was placed on the COVID list.
The plan for La Stella, Kapler said, is to play for Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“Probably a game at second, a DH game and some work at third base, as well,” Kapler said. “Then we’ll re-evaluate.”
Junis to rejoin rotation Monday
When the Giants announced their post-All-Star break pitching plans, one name was left off the list: Jakob Junis.
Carlos Rodón opened the second half Thursday night, with Logan Webb, Alex Wood and Alex Cobb set to follow in the final three games with the Dodgers. Before Thursday’s game, Junis confirmed what the probables for this first series hinted at: his return to the rotation will come Monday in the Giants’ first of three games against the D-backs.
Junis was originally scheduled to throw his final rehab outing on the Sunday before the All-Star break but was instead called upon to spell a taxed Giants bullpen. He allowed five hits and three runs over two innings, easily his worst outing of the season.
“Obviously when you’re out there you’re trying to get outs. Unfortunately it didn’t go great, but at least I got to face some real hitters,” Junis said. “At the same time, the premise of it was to get ups and pitches and build me up.”
Before suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain in his start June 10, Junis had thrown 48 innings over 10 appearances with a rotation-best 2.63 ERA. He said he expects to be limited to 3-4 innings Sunday.
