SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NEWS

Brandon Crawford - In lineup Saturday Crawford (forearm) is starting at shortstop and batting seventh Saturday against the Royals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Crawford missed one game with mild forearm tightness but returned to action Friday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. The veteran shortstop went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base in the second game of the season, but he's otherwise hitless in 19 plate appearances.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Darin Ruf re-signing with Giants on minor league deal brings Mets trade full circle After a lackluster stint with the New York Mets, Darin Ruf is reportedly resigning with the San Francisco Giants on a minor league deal.

APRIL 8, 2023 • NYPOST.COM

Joey Bart - Beginning rehab stint Bart (back) was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday to start a rehab assignment.

Impact It's significant news for the 26-year-old and the Giants, especially since Roberto Perez (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday. Bart will be eligible to be activated during the upcoming week, and he should be ready to go after playing in a couple of minor-league games.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Roberto Pérez - Lands on 60-day injured list Perez was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday with a right rotator cuff strain, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Impact Perez exited Friday's game against Kansas City with the injury and will now be sidelined for at least the next two months. The 34-year-old was operating as San Francisco's primary backstop, but Blake Sabol and a newly-promoted Austin Wynns will now handle the catching duties until Joey Bart (back) returns from the injured list.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Darin Ruf - Back with San Francisco Ruf signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Saturday, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 36-year-old returns to the organization less than a year after the club traded him to the Mets. Ruf had a .413 OPS in 29 games for New York last season and then hit .167 during spring training, prompting the team not to include him on the Opening Day roster. The Giants currently have Mitch Haniger (back/oblique) and Austin Slater (hamstring) on the injured list, which could open the door for Ruf to make his way to the majors, depending how long the pair is sidelined.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Salvador Perez, Royals chase another win over Giants Salvador Perez will continue to attempt to distance himself from Buster Posey on the all-time catchers home run chart when the Kansas City R...

APRIL 8, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Royals bring 1-0 series lead over Giants into game 2

The Kansas City Royals play the San Francisco Giants with a 1-0 series lead

APRIL 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giants have a major issue at home beyond loss in Oracle Park opener to Royals Roberto Pérez's injury and a called third strike to Mike Yastrzemski left an especially bad taste after a frustrating home-opening loss.

APRIL 8, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Royals spoil Giants' homer opener with 3-1 win Salvador Perez belted the 224th home run of his career, Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first of the season and the Kansas City Royals opened a s...

APRIL 8, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Alex Cobb - Receives no run support Cobb (0-1) allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings Friday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Royals.

Impact The 35-year-old righty gave up one run through three frames before serving up a solo shot to Vinnie Pasquantino in the fourth. Cobb is sporting an impressive 12:1 K:BB with a 2.53 ERA through two starts to begin the year. He forced 13 whiffs Friday, including 10 with the splitter. Cobb is currently projected to face the Dodgers at home next week.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pasquantino, Perez hit home runs as Royals beat Giants 3-1

Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first home run of the season leading off the fourth, Salvador Perez connected in the eighth for his first of 2023 and a key insurance run, and the Kansas...

APRIL 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Roberto Pérez - Diagnosed with shoulder strain Perez left Friday's game against Kansas City with a right shoulder strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact While the severity of Perez's injury and how long he might be inactive remain unknown, it seems like the Giants avoided what could have been a much worse fate. Blake Sabol will assume primary catching duties while Perez and Joey Bart (back) work their way back from injury.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Roberto Pérez - Exits early with injury Perez left Friday's game against the Royals after throwing to second base in an attempt to catch Kyle Isbel stealing, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Perez immediately headed for the dugout after making the throw, seemingly in quite a bit of pain. The Giants will take a look at him and should provide an update relatively soon. If he's forced to remain out for an extended period of time, Blake Sabol will become the only active catcher on San Francisco's roster.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

SF Giants outfielder Mitch Haniger suffered back tightness while rehabbing from oblique injury, still in 'early stages' of recovery SF Giants outfielder Mitch Haniger said Friday that back tightness interrupted his progress and provided a minor setback.

APRIL 7, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Royals-Giants prediction: Look for hot bats to stay on fire The Giants keep hitting home runs and we’re riding the hot hand.

APRIL 7, 2023 • INQUIRER.COM

Austin Slater - Could debut during road trip Giants manager Gabe Kapler said on Friday that Slater (hamstring) is likely to debut during the team's next road trip, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact This puts him in line to return some time between April 14-19. Slater has been sidelined with a strained hamstring since March 16 and was just cleared for baseball activity Saturday. Once he returns, Slater will likely slide into an outfield depth role.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joey Bart - Nearing rehab assignment Bart (back) could begin a rehab assignment within the next few days, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Bart landed on the injured list shortly after Opening Day with a mid-back strain but has been progressing well. He is eligible for activation on April 11 and could be ready around that time.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Haniger - Slowed by back issue Haniger (oblique) was recently shut down for about a week due to back tightness, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Haniger is on the injured list with an oblique strain and hit a bump in the road when the back issue cropped up. He's resumed workouts but is currently limited to hitting off a tee, so a rehab assignment isn't close. It's now looking like Haniger could miss most, if not all, of April.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Thairo Estrada - Three hits in return Estrada (calf) went 3-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 16-6 win over the White Sox.

Impact Estrada was out of action for a couple of days after fouling a ball off his left calf Monday. He returned with a strong game, though he didn't have any of the Giants' five home runs in Thursday's slugfest. The infielder has been fantastic to start the season, batting .409 (9-for-22) with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases through 23 plate appearances. While his bat will eventually cool off, he's pretty close to a lock to be in the lineup most days.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Yastrzemski - Pops second homer Yastrzemski went 1-for-6 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 16-6 win over the White Sox.

Impact Yastrzemski was able to contribute in the Giants' five-homer barrage, going deep in the fifth inning off White Sox starter Lance Lynn. Through six games this season, Yastrzemski is hitting .240 with two homers, three doubles, five RBI and six runs scored across 27 plate appearances. He's enjoyed an everyday role so far, though it's important to note the Giants haven't faced a left-handed starter yet.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wilmer Flores - Smacks homer Thursday Flores went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Thursday's 16-6 win over the White Sox.

Impact Flores hasn't had steady playing time so far, as the Giants have enjoyed relatively good health in the infield. He got the start at first base over LaMonte Wade on Thursday, even with righty Lance Lynn on the mound. Flores has made the most of his opportunities, going 4-for-11 with three walks and two extra-base hits in his limited action across four games this season.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Conforto - On base five times Thursday Conforto went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, three total runs scored and two walks in Thursday's 16-6 win over the White Sox.

Impact Conforto's second homer of the season set the tone, as he took White Sox starter Lance Lynn deep in the first inning. The outfielder also scored in the eighth and ninth innings in his best game as a Giant so far. He's gone 6-for-25 (.240) with four RBI, five runs scored and a 5:12 BB:K through six contests. It's encouraging to see his power on display after he was limited to 14 homers in 125 games last year, though the Giants have been away from pitcher-friendly Oracle Park for the first week of the campaign.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jakob Junis - Snares second win Junis (2-0) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over four scoreless innings, earning the win Thursday versus the White Sox.

Impact Junis has won both of his appearances this season, allowing just one run over 6.1 innings. He was efficient Thursday, throwing 44 of 69 pitches for strikes after starter Alex Wood needed 71 pitches to complete three frames. Junis' role as a swingman is clearly paying off when he can vulture some wins, but that's not a particularly reliable source of fantasy value. He's unlikely to be called upon for a few days after this long-relief assignment.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Royals visit the Giants to begin 3-game series

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series at home against the Kansas City Royals on Friday

APRIL 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blake Sabol - Blasts first career homer Sabol went 3-for-6 with a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against the White Sox.

Impact Sabol has been a regular in the lineup to begin the season thanks to his ability to both catch and play in left field. He drew the start behind the dish Thursday and took Lancy Lynn deep in the second inning to tally his first career homer. Though Sabol had only one hit coming into the contest, he hasn't looked overmatched at the plate as he's maintained a reasonable 23.8 percent strikeout rate through 21 plate appearances.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE