Giants Place Thairo Estrada, Wilmer Flores On Injured Checklist

The Giants introduced this night that they’ve positioned infielders Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores on the 10-day injured record. Estrada was despatched to the shelf with a left wrist sprain and the latter was shelved with knee tendonitis. In corresponding strikes, the membership has referred to as up infielder Tyler Fitzgerald and activated first baseman Lamonte Wade Jr. from the 10-day injured record.

It’s been a troublesome 12 months on the plate for each Estrada and Flores, each of whom have posted below-average offensive numbers after being among the many membership’s most efficient gamers final 12 months. On the heels of a 3.6 fWAR season the place he posted unbelievable defensive metrics and a 101 wRC+, Estrada has hit simply .231/.264/.376 in 311 journeys to the plate this 12 months regardless of practically an identical peripheral numbers to his 2023 marketing campaign. Whereas his .259 batting common on balls in play might initially look like a transparent indication that optimistic regression may very well be on the way in which for the 28-year-old, it’s value noting that the infielder’s .279 wOBA truly outpaces his anticipated determine of .270.

As for Flores, the 32-year-old was coming off a unbelievable 2023 marketing campaign in a semi-regular position with the membership final 12 months the place he slashed .284/.355/.509 (136 wRC+) in 454 journeys to the plate whereas splitting time between first, second, and third base in addition to the DH slot. Flores has discovered himself in the same position thus far within the Giants’ season, albeit one which has seen him play first base nearly completely whereas Wade was on the shelf. Flores’s plate self-discipline numbers are nonetheless glorious, as he’s walked at an 8.8% clip whereas placing out simply 13.2% of the time, however he’s seemingly utterly misplaced his energy stroke. After crushing 23 dwelling runs final 12 months, he’s hit simply 4 in 227 journeys to the plate this season as his barrel price has dipped from 7.8% to simply 5.7% this 12 months.

It’s not at present clear how lengthy both participant figures to be out of motion, however the stays on the shelf ought to supply each veterans the chance to reset forward of the second half, the place each they and the Giants will certainly be hoping for higher outcomes. Wade’s activation from the IL makes him a reasonably clear substitute for Flores at first base, though it’s considerably trickier for the membership to interchange Estrada.

Brett Wisely and Nick Ahmed had been appearing as a platoon tandem at shortstop whereas Estrada manned the keystone every day, however with Fitzgerald coming into the combo it’s much less clear how that taking part in time will shake out. The 26-year-old has hit a good .273/.333/.409 in 28 video games with the Giants thus far within the 12 months, however he has simply 106 complete plate appearances underneath his belt since making his large league debut final season. It seems doubtless that Ahmed might see an uptick in taking part in time at shortstop as Correctly takes some begins at second base, whereas Fitzgerald might combine in at each positions along with the outfield and first base in a utility position.

Tonight’s information isn’t completely bleak for the Giants, as they’ll certainly be excited to return Wade to the beginning lineup. The 30-year-old has been on the shelf since late Might resulting from a hamstring pressure however was among the many easiest hitters in all of baseball this 12 months on the time of his damage. He’ll return to the beginning lineup with a unbelievable .333/.470/.426 slash line (166 wRC+) that makes up for the relative lack of energy with an eye-popping 19.9% stroll price. If Wade manages to play at something near that degree going ahead this season, he’ll certainly present a significant shot within the arm for a Giants offense that has ranked simply twentieth within the majors with a 97 wRC+ since Wade was positioned on the shelf.