AUSTIN SLATER NEWS

Alfaro helps Marlins rally in 9th, 10th to beat Giants 7-6

Jorge Alfaro hit a game-ending, two-run double and the Miami Marlins rallied from two-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6

APRIL 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Saturday Slater is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Slater has started against every lefty the Giants have faced this season but will now be on the bench against four out of seven right-handers. Steven Duggar will make his first start of the season Saturday, with righty Sandy Alcantara on the mound for the Marlins.

APRIL 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cueto sharp until lat tightness in 6th, Giants blank Reds

Johnny Cueto pitched neatly into the sixth inning before exiting with a tight lat muscle, and the San Francisco Giants finished off the Cincinnati Reds 3-0

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly holds up, Giants beat Reds 7-6

Wilmer Flores’ tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh held up in a strange, back-and-forth game that featured four two-run homers in the first inning alone, and the San Francisco...

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On bench Tuesday Slater is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Slater started the first seven games of the season but has now been on the bench for three of the last four. His previous two off days were reportedly related to foot discomfort, though he returned to the lineup Monday. It's unclear if the issue is still bothering him.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Slater (foot) is starting Monday against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Slater had missed the past two games due to foot discomfort, but he'll start in right field and lead off for Monday's series opener against the Reds. Slater has gone 4-for-26 with a home run, one stolen base and 11 strikeouts to begin the year.

APRIL 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Managing foot discomfort Slater has been out of the lineup for the past two games due to foot discomfort, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Slater hit a ball off his foot several days ago and was unavailable off the bench Saturday. Manager Gabe Kapler revealed that Slater was available to pinch hit if needed Sunday, so he appears to be trending in the right direction. However, it's not yet clear whether Slater will be able to return to the lineup for Monday's series opener against Cincinnati.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Sunday Slater is not in the lineup Sunday against Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact The 28-year-old started the first seven games of the season, but he now finds himself on the bench for the second straight game. LaMonte Wade was recalled from alternate training site and will start in center field in Slater's place Sunday.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Saturday Slater isn't starting Saturday's game against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Slater had started each of the first seven games for the Giants this year and went 4-for-26 with a solo home run, four walks and 11 strikeouts. Mauricio Dubon will take over in center field Saturday, batting eighth.

APRIL 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Worry rankings: Which struggling Giants hitters should you be concerned about? It's too early to freak out about the small-sample size struggles of Brandon Belt, Austin Slater and others. Or is it?

APRIL 8, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Steals base in extra-inning win Slater went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Padres.

Impact One of Slater's walks came in the third inning, and he added his first steal of the year soon after. The 28-year-old outfielder is seeing an everyday role -- he's slashing .174/.269/.304 with a homer, one RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Expect him to hit near the top of the order versus southpaws, while he'll typically shift to the bottom third of the lineup against right-handed pitchers.

APRIL 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Settling into everyday role Slater will start in center field and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact With southpaw Blake Snell on the hill for San Diego, Slater will once again get a turn in the table-setting role, as has been the case in the Giants' previous three games this season in which they've opposed left-handed starting pitchers. Slater has also been featured in the starting nine in both of the Giants' games to date against right-handed pitchers, albeit while batting in a bottom-third spot in the order. The 28-year-old thus appears to have at least temporarily captured a full-time role in the outfield, with Mauricio Dubon losing out on some reps as a result.

APRIL 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks homer Thursday Slater went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Impact Slater batted leadoff for the Giants. His homer came in the fifth inning, extending the Giants' lead to 5-0 at the time. The 28-year-old outfielder is expected to see the short side of a platoon in left field this season -- Alex Dickerson pinch hit for Slater in the ninth inning. Slater provides a bit of speed, as he went 8-for-9 in stolen bases in 2020 while slashing .282/.408/.506 across 104 plate appearances. He added five homers, 18 runs scored and seven RBI.

APRIL 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners rally late to stun Giants 8-7 in 10 innings

Jake Fraley walked with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to score Evan White with the winning run, and the Seattle Mariners rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the San Franc...

APRIL 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting against left-hander Slater is starting Thursday's game against the Mariners, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Slater will enter the Giants' Opening Day lineup as the leadoff hitter with left-hander Marco Gonzales starting for Seattle. Alex Dickerson will retreat to the bench while Slater starts in left field. However, Dickerson is expected to serve on the strong side of a platoon in left field this year.

APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Likely platoon LF role Slater appears set to platoon in left field with Alex Dickerson, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Slater is having a strong spring by hitting .409 (9-for-22) with four home runs and two stolen bases. Slater could get starts in the first two games against Seattle with the Mariners likely to start lefties Marco Gonzales and James Paxton. Slater looks to build on his 2021 season where he hit .282/.408/.506 with five homers and eight steals in 31 games.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox lefty Rodriguez scratched for opener with 'dead arm'

Boston Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will have to wait a little longer before returning to a big league mound

MARCH 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Padres star Tatis feels better, expected back in lineup soon

Fernando Tatis Jr. is feeling a lot better, a huge relief to the star San Diego shortstop, his team and his many fans

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Padres star Tatis has shoulder problem, to be re-evaluated

The flash and dash of Fernando Tatis Jr. came to a sudden halt Tuesday when the star San Diego Padres shortstop slowly walked off the field after making an awkward throw in an exhi...

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LeMahieu HR ends inning, no more early exits for pitchers

New York Yankees star DJ LeMahieu launched a three-run homer in an exhibition game Saturday, and that was all for Pittsburgh starter JT Brubaker

MARCH 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting Saturday Slater (hamstring) is starting Saturday's spring game against Cleveland, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Slater missed time earlier this spring due to hamstring tightness, but he'll lead off and play right field Saturday. It's not yet clear whether his absence will affect his availability for Opening Day.

MARCH 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could play Friday Slater (hamstring) could get an at-bat and play the field during Friday's spring game against the Rockies, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Slater hasn't played since Feb. 28 due to hamstring tightness that he dealt with after the spring opener. However, the 28-year-old could return to the field Friday with just under three weeks remaining before Opening Day. Slater should serve as a primary backup in the outfield if he's fully healthy to begin the season.

MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Belt making progress from illness, resumes baseball activity

First baseman Brandon Belt has resumed baseball activities with the San Francisco Giants at spring training after dealing with what manager Gabe Kapler called a virus without provi...

MARCH 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dealing with hamstring tightness Slater is dealing with hamstring tightness following Sunday's loss to the Angels, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Slater entered spring training with a minor elbow flexor strain, but he experienced a tight hamstring during Sunday's spring opener and had only one at-bat as a result. It's not yet clear whether Slater will miss time as a result of the injury.

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as designated hitter Slater (elbow) will bat sixth as the designated hitter in the Giants' spring debut against the Angels on Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Slater dealt with an elbow flexor strain over the offseason and received a platelet-rich plasma injection. He said himself that he feels pretty much 100 percent, and the fact that he's already able to hit seems to back that up. It would be nice to see him take the field soon to confirm that he's fully healthy, but he still has over a month to go before the regular season begins to clear that hurdle.

FEBRUARY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE