SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants announced less than an hour before Monday's National League Division Series Game 3 against the Cubs -- a 6-5 win in 13 innings -- that they had scratched left fielder Ángel Pagán, who experienced back spasms.
Grégor Blanco replaced Pagan in left field, batting eighth. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who was slotted eighth in San Francisco's original lineup, was elevated to fifth.
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Scratching the switch-hitting Pagan, who has a history of back problems, threatened to hamper San Francisco's already challenged offense. He hit .333 (2-for-6) in the series' first two games and owned a .455 career batting average (5-for-11) off Cubs starter Jake Arrieta.
Pagan, who's eligible for free agency after this season, appeared in 129 regular-season games and batted .277 with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs and a team-high 15 steals in 19 tries.
Pagan joined third baseman Eduardo Núñez on the list of Giants regulars who are enduring injuries.<p< div=""></p<>