Giants sticking with 13 pitchers for now

SAN FRANCISCO -- Until circumstances force them to do otherwise, the Giants are likely to keep a 13-man pitching staff, since manager Bruce Bocky considers the roster adequately stocked with position players.

Bochy explained Friday that Michael Morse's switch from left field to first base, where he's filling in for Brandon Belt, changed the Giants' substitution habits and essentially has saved them from using a player. With Morse in left, Bochy typically replaced him in late innings to upgrade the outfield defense and get the oft-injured veteran off his feet. With Morse at first, Bochy's less likely to remove him.

Moreover, Bochy has virtually no need to fiddle with most of his usual batting order.

"If you look at our lineup," he said, "I'm clearly not going to pinch-hit for any of the first six guys."

The Giants are in the middle of the National League's pack in using pinch-hitters. They entered Friday with 56 pinch-hit at-bats, seventh in the league but only one ahead of the Mets and Nationals, who were tied for eighth with 55 apiece. Pittsburgh topped the NL with 75 at-bats from pinch-hitters.