Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo, right, is tagged out at second base by San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford while attempting a steal during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon Crawford will not start the final game of the Giants’ series with the Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that he was already considering giving the 36-year-old shortstop the day off, and that a minor injury was the deciding factor.
“He jammed his pinky on the slide into third base,” Kapler said. “I don’t think it’s anything significant, but it was just enough to where it barely tipped the scales. You don’t want to make anything a little bit worse or have him playing catch up.”
Crawford has been on a tear since returning from an 11-game stay on the injured list. He has five hits in his last 16 at-bats, including a home run and the 44th triple of his career (which resulted in the injured finger).
Crawford isn’t the only Giant to get the day off. Wilmer Flores, who is batting .305 and has had a multi-hit game in seven of the team’s 17 games since the All-Star break, will also rest.
However, Kapler added that those two veterans might still have an impact at some point during Thursday’s game.
“One thing I’ll say about both Craw and Flo, is that we’re going to try to get them ready to have that big moment off the bench,” Kapler said.
Highly-touted prospect Birdsong earns promotion
Hayden Birdsong, the Giants’ sixth-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, earned a promotion to double-A Richmond after compiling a 2.16 ERA with an incredible 15.1 SO9 in single-A San Jose following a stint in low-A ball.
The 6-4 righthander has thrown 77.2 innings across two levels, and could be an option for the Giants as a bullpen arm down the stretch if he continues to tear through the minor leagues.
Originally published at Joseph Dycus