May 1, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan (16) celebrates with third base coach Tim Flannery (1) after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

During last evening’s tilt against the Philadelphia Phillies, Angel Pagan could be seen wincing at times, which didn’t sit well with the Giant faithful.

After missing two games with what was determined as a “mild” hamstring issue, Pagan returned to the lineup last night and went 0-3 and coupled with his grimaces of pain, many expected that he had aggravated the injury.

A morning MRI reveled Pagan’s source of discomfort, though, it wasn’t from the hamstring issue that the Giants’ medical staff assumed had plagued him days earlier. An apparent strain of his groin “area” (as John Shea put it) seemed to be the reason Pagan’s uncomfortableness, but the strain isn’t expected to last long.

Pagan lobbied with Giants skipper Bruce Bochy to play in today’s afternoon game but the manager opted to keep Pagan as a reverse, hoping an additional day of rest would do the Giants’ leadoff bat some good. He’s expected to play tomorrow when the Giants welcome the Atlanta Braves to town.

The Giants will look to avoid a sweep today as they’ve dropped two in a row to Philadelphia, this after winning their previous six games.

Barry Zito will look to stop the bleeding as he’s countered by Phillies rookie arm Jonathan Pettibone, who comes into today’s start with a 3.24 ERA and two wins in three Major League starts.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants outfielder Angel Pagan (16) reacts after hitting a leadoff double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at AT

Earlier today, there were quiet rumblings that if Giants’ outfielder Angel Pagan wasn’t better, he could end up on the disabled list.

Apparently, Pagan is feeling much better.

Giants skipper Bruce Bochy was a guest on Jim Bowden’s radio show this afternoon and let Bowden know that Pagan was feeling good and would make a return to the lineup tonight.

The hamstring injury, which was initially categorized as a “minor” tweak, apparently healed well in Pagan’s two days off and the Giants will take the field against the Phillies with their leadoff hitter back in his role.

Andres Torres, who filled in for Pagan, will most likely make his way back to the bench.

Torres filled in nicely for Pagan during the two game stint, going 3 for 8 – though all three hits came on Monday night and were of the snubber variety.