SF Giants may lean on Bryce Eldridge heavily in series vs. Dodgers

The SF Giants called up their top prospect Bryce Eldridge and they are not easing him into things as he has gotten starts in two of his first three games. He figures to see a lot of action in the four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning tonight.

The plan upon calling him up to the big leagues was to have him be the team's starting designated hitter against right-handed pitching and the Giants will face three right-handers in Los Angeles.

SF Giants figure to lean on Eldridge against the Dodgers

Eldridge is in a sort of quasi-platoon with veteran Wilmer Flores who still figures to get starts against left-handed pitching. Expect Flores to be in the lineup on Friday when Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in what could be Kershaw's final start against the Giants.

Some fans may be frustrated that Flores, who is slashing .192/.250/.385 with three home runs and seven runs batted in across his last 15 games, is getting starts over Eldridge but historically Flores has performed well against lefties in his career. On Tuesday against a left-handed starter Flores went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in.

Eldridge is obviously the flashy new toy who everyone wants to see, but this platoon configuration is probably what gives the team the best chance to win right now.

Going forward though, Eldridge should not be a liability against left-handed pitching. In the minors this season, he has slashed .270/.330/.494 with four home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Eldridge does not have a big league hit yet but he flashed some power in the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks as he hit two balls to the warning track that probably would have been gone in other ballparks. Maybe Eldridge is just waiting for his first hit to be a home run at Dodger Stadium since that would be way cooler.

The hope is that Eldridge can get hot and help power the Giants into the playoffs. It would be a miracle at this point with where they are in the standings, but crazier things have happened. If the Giants do make the playoffs then Eldridge would be eligible to play so there is a chance he could get his first taste of the playoffs.

For now though, the Giants are just hoping he can give them good at-bats and run into some balls for them. Expect to see him in the lineup at least three times in Los Angeles.

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