LOS ANGELES — Justin Verlander took one other step in his restoration from proper pectoral tightness, throwing a bullpen session on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium previous to the Giants’ recreation towards the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned “there’s a chance” Verlander returns from the 15-day injured checklist throughout San Francisco’s upcoming nine-game residence stand towards the Cleveland Guardians, Boston Purple Sox and Miami Marlins. Verlander threw a dwell bullpen in the course of the Giants’ earlier sequence towards the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
As soon as Verlander, 42, returns from the injured checklist, left-hander Kyle Harrison is the probably candidate to transition to the bullpen. Melvin responded “not necessarily” when requested if Harrison can be the starter moved to the bullpen, however Harrison makes essentially the most sense given he joined the rotation in response to Verlander’s harm.
“We haven’t talked to any of those guys yet,” Melvin mentioned. “I’m not going to say what’s going to happen and when until we get home and we get through this series here.”
Over 4 begins, Harrison has allowed 10 earned runs over 18 1/3 innings (4.91 ERA) with 18 strikeouts to 6 walks. Harrison is presently scheduled to start out tomorrow for San Francisco towards the Dodgers’ Dustin Could because the rivals face off on Sunday Night time Baseball.
The Giants nonetheless view the 23-year-old Harrison as a starter long run, however Harrison stands to spend the vast majority of this season within the bullpen. In 4 appearances as a reliever this season, Harrison has allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings (3.38 ERA) with seven strikeouts.
“One thing I do know is you’re not going to have five or six starters over the course of the season,” Melvin mentioned earlier this month about Harrison’s growth. “When Verlander’s back in, that obviously could potentially be the move. There’s still some room for a length lefty, but that’s something we’re going to have to be cognizant of over the course of the season: make sure he gets some innings in to be prepared to do what we expect him to do for a long time.”
Verlander, who has a 4.33 ERA over 10 begins with San Francisco, was positioned on the injured checklist on Could 22 (retroactive to Could 19). Upon returning, Verlander will proceed his seek for his first win as a Large (0-3).
Former teammates Lee, Kim to face one another for first time
The Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee and the Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim are each scheduled to start out on Saturday night, offering the long-time associates with their first alternative to play towards each other within the majors.
“I went to the national team with him and we went to the playoffs together,” Lee mentioned by means of staff interpreter Justin Han. “A lot of good memories playing together.”
Kim and Lee each performed for the South Korean nationwide staff earlier than turning into professionals, then had been each drafted by the Kiwoom Heroes (beforehand generally known as the Nexen Heroes) in 2016. They performed seven seasons collectively from 2017-23 earlier than Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract to affix the Giants. Kim and Lee led the Heroes to the Korean Collection, the KBO’s championship sequence, in ’19 and ’22 however would lose each instances.
“We talked prior to the game and we talk on a daily basis,” Lee mentioned. “When I get to see him on the field, I’ll go over and talk to him, maybe tell him a joke.”
Kim, 26, started this season within the minors after signing a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers this previous offseason however was promoted by Los Angeles in early Could. Getting into Saturday, Kim is hitting .391/.435/.563 with two residence runs, 10 RBIs and 6 steals
