SAN FRANCISCO -- Second baseman Luis Arraez was out of the Giants’ starting lineup with right foot soreness on Wednesday, but manager Tony Vitello said before the game that the three-time batting champion could be available off the bench against the A’s.
Arraez, who has played in 75 of San Francisco’s first 78 games this year, departed Tuesday night’s 3-1 series-opening win at Oracle Park in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off his foot in the bottom of the first. X-rays came back negative, but Vitello said Arraez was dealing with some discomfort around the arch of his foot.
“He said his foot is asleep right now from treatment, but I’ve got to believe that’s going to help the swelling and all that,” Vitello said. “I haven’t completely ruled out a pinch-hit possibility tonight. But I don’t know that it makes the most sense or that it would even be an option on the sheet. But hopefully, with the work he’s doing back there, it would mean tomorrow would be an opportunity. We’ll see.”
With Arraez unavailable, the Giants deployed super-utility man Casey Schmitt at second base against A’s left-hander Gage Jump, with rookie Victor Bericoto getting a rare start in left field.
Arraez, 29, has been one of the Giants’ most consistent offensive performers this year, batting .321 with an .803 OPS and three home runs after joining the club on a one-year, $12 million deal over the offseason. The Giants likely breathed a sigh of relief that Arraez’s injury wasn’t too serious, as he’s viewed as the club’s top trade chip leading into the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
The Giants are close to getting another key piece back, as left fielder Heliot Ramos is also nearing a return from the right quad strain that has sidelined him since May 15.
Ramos, 26, entered Wednesday 6-for-19 (.316) with one home run over his first five rehab games with Triple-A Sacramento and could be ready to come off the 10-day injured list during the Giants’ next series against the Braves.
“It’s definitely close,” Vitello said. “I know he’s ready. Obviously, with Arraez down, you’re looking for a little bit of a replacement on offense there. I think a big requirement for the organization was for him to get a couple of nine-inning stints or close to doing that. We’re seeing some lefties here. The safest answer I could give you is: I don’t see the weekend passing by where he’s not part of the team.”