The bad news keeps pouring in for the defending World Series Champion Giants, who are trying to stay above water in the NL West and NL Wild Card races.
They placed relief pitcher Sergio Romo on the disabled list today right elbow inflammation. Dan Runzler was recalled from AAA to replace him.
Right fielder Carlos Beltran is also believed to be headed to the DL later today with his wrist problem. He hasn't played since August 7 against the Phillies, having to exit the game due to feeling a sharp pain in his hand after a swinging strikeout. A MRI showed no structural damage, but he continues to feel pain swinging from the left side. A cortisone shot had no positive effect. Since giving up top pitching prospect Zach Wheeler to the Mets for him, Beltran only played 11 games with his new team before going down with another injury. Beltran, 34, is in the final season of a 7-year, $119 million contract signed with the Mets after the 2004 season. The tenure of his contract has been smeared with multiple injuries, and this latest one will no doubt affect his free agent value this offseason. Even before the injury, the Giants were not expected to attempt re-signing him in the offseason.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval is not in tonight's line-up after fouling a ball hard off his ankle on Monday. He had to come out of the game in obvious pain. X-Rays were negative, but he's been diagnosed with a bone bruise. There is a chance Sandoval could miss the rest of this crucial series against the Wild Card-leading Braves. For a club who is already MLB's dead last in runs scored, losing Sandoval for an extended period of time could put one foot of the Giants' 2011 season in the grave with the other foot slipping. Sandoval's injury may force the Giants to DL Beltran, in order to free up another bench spot if he cannot play for a few days.
Relief pitcher Brian Wilson is also not healthy. The Giants' eccentric closer has been suffering a lower back issue. He was in clear discomfort Monday, blowing a two-run lead. The Braves rallied to a 5-4 win on the heels of Rookie of the Year candidate Freddie Freeman's bases-loaded, walk-off single. The man affectionally referred to as "The Beard" has now allowed 11 earned runs in his last 17.2 innings pitched.
Monday's demoralizing loss for the Giants sunk them to 2.5 back of the idle Diamondbacks in the NL West and 5.0 back of the Braves in the NL Wild Card. The Braves are now 4-0 on the season against the team that bounced them from the playoffs last year. The Braves also increased their lead to 6.0 games over the Cardinals, who lost 6-2 to the Pirates. Despite their sizable Wild Card lead and owning the second-best record in the NL, the Braves still find themselves 8.5 back of the MLB-best Phillies.
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