SAN FRANCISCO — Casey Schmitt was out of the lineup Saturday after leaving Friday night’s loss injured, but the Giants don’t expect to miss their starting second baseman for long.
“In the next day or two, I think we’ll have him (back),” manager Bob Melvin said.
Schmitt underwent X-rays after the game on Friday that came back clean. He was feeling “better than I thought he would be” than 24 hours later, Melvin said, leaving the team optimistic that the 26-year-old won’t require a second stint on the injured list this season from a hit by pitch.
Schmitt left the 7-6 loss in the eighth inning after a first-pitch fastball from Rays reliever Edwin Uceta ran inside and hit him on his right forearm. He was forced to miss two weeks before the All-Star break after a similar pitch from the Marlins’ Caleb Faucher got him on his left wrist.
“It looked pretty bad,” Melvin said of his initial reaction to the pitch. “He’s been hit there — the wrist, forearm — a couple times this year. … Hopefully Schmitt’s in there tomorrow or next day and it’s not too long.”
Melvin would surely love to be able to write Schmitt’s name on the lineup card Sunday if his health allows. The Rays are scheduled to start Ryan Pepiot, the former Dodger, whom Schmitt has faced twice and taken him deep both times.
In the meantime, the Giants went with their Opening Day second baseman, Tyler Fitzgerald, while Christian Koss occupied third base on the second day of Matt Chapman’s absence with inflammation in his right hand.
A third baseman by trade, Schmitt would offer the Giants a more natural fill-in for Chapman at third. Koss has held his own at all three infield positions he has been asked to play this season, but logged most of his time at second.
Koss, 27, reached base three times in Friday’s loss and is batting .265/.315/.381 in 51 games this season. Acquired from Boston in a minor-league trade before last season, he has made a strong impression with his versatility on defense and professional approach at the plate.
Fitzgerald, also 27, lost his starting job after struggling mightily to start the season and could find himself in competition with Koss next spring to become the Giants’ utilityman. Fitzgerald recently made his first start in right field, and the club has discussed the possibility of using Koss in the outfield, as well.
“To be able to come up here and done what he’s done, play different positions, hit in different spots in the lineup, and produce,” Melvin said of Koss. “Credit to a hard-working guy who’s got a big competitive streak in him.”
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