Injury-riddled SF Giants slugger has one last chance after Dominic Smith goes on IL

The SF Giants got a bad break in Friday night's game against the Dodgers as first baseman Dominic Smith injured his leg stretching for a ball and had to leave the game. It seems Jerar Encarnación is getting called up and will start the game in right field.

Per Justice delos Santos on social media, Encarnación will get the start in right field on Saturday night against left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw.

Oft-injured SF Giants slugger getting called up after Dominic Smith injury

This is a rough break for the Giants because Smith has proven to be a really solid player for the Giants both on offense and defense this season. They will miss his presence in the lineup and his slick glove at first but the Giants do have other options at first base with Wilmer Flores and Rafael Devers.

The Giants will be getting back their slugger Jerar Encarnación who, unfortunately, just has not been able to stay healthy this season. He hurt his wrist back in spring training and missed the first few months of the season and then injured his oblique when he came back. Then, once he finally recovered from that injury he got on a tear at the plate and was hitting home runs seemingly every day but then he injured his hamstring.

He just has not been able to stay on the field but he has been on the mend as of late and has been on a rehab assignment. It is good for him that he is getting one more opportunity this season because it was looking like injuries could rob him of his chance to show his true potential.

In just ten games this year, Encarnación has five hits in 30 at-bats. Including two home runs. Last season he had five home runs in 113 at-bats so he has power in that bat it is just a matter of staying on the field.

Encarnación does seem like the perfect candidate to take Kershaw deep, though. while Kershaw has owned the Giants in his career random Giants have had mini-ownage on him like Austin Slater and Joaquin Arias.

It is a gut punch to lose Dom Smith like this for at least a week or two most likely if not longer, but maybe Encarnación can do something special tonight as he gets one last chance to prove himself this season.

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