SF Giants lose key infielder to hand fracture, send Anthony DeSclafani to injured list

The SF Giants welcomed back Mike Yastrzemski on Monday night. However, both Thairo Estrada (hand fracture) and Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder fatigure) landed on the injured list. Brett Wisely was also recalled in a corresponding roster move according to the team's transaction page.

SF Giants lose key infielder to hand fracture, send Anthony DeSclafani to injured list

The loss of Estrada is really a tough blow. The right-handed bat has been a reliable contributor in 2023 as he has slashed .272/.327/.434 (107 OPS+) with nine home runs, 31 RBI, and 46 runs in 315 plate appearances. Plus, his defense at second base has improved quite a bit. He has been worth +5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +11 Outs Above Average (OAA).

The 27-year-old infielder is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks. His type of production will be tough to replace as he contributes on both sides of the ball. Wisely should see some playing time at second base, but this could create an opportunity for Casey Schmitt as well.

Schmitt's playing time has diminished lately as he continues to adjust to major league pitching, but the Estrada injury could thrust him back into a starting role.

On the other hand, Anthony DeSclafani was also placed on the injured list with shoulder fatigure. The right-hander got off to a nice start, but he has struggled to the tune of a 5.96 ERA over his last 10 starts. It is tough to ignore the fact that his four-seam fastball velocity has regressed during that stretch.

In his last outing, DeSclafani allowed three home runs, all solo shots, across three innings in a 4-1 loss against the New York Mets. His workload over the past five seasons has ranged from 19.0 innings (2022) to 167.2 innings (2021), so there has been some variability in that regard.

With that in mind, the Giants likely expected a trip to the injured list at some point this year. Given that the All-Star break is right around the corner, they hope that the he can recover from the shoulder ailment without missing too much time.

The good news is that Mike Yastrzemski is back. He recorded one hit and one walk in four plate appearances in Monday's 5-4 loss against the Seattle Mariners. He had begun a brief rehab assignment over the weekened, so his return was imminent.