SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants received reinforcements ahead of their series finale against the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon. The team activated shortstop Brandon Crawford and right-hander Aaron Sanchez from the injured list, optioning reliever John Brebbia to Triple-A Sacramento and designating outfielder Mike Tauchman for assignment in corresponding moves.

Crawford sustained a left oblique strain in his final at-bat against the Cardinals on July 18 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. Prior to his injury, the 2021 All-Star had been hitting .403 since June 20, second best in MLB over that span, and was riding a 10-game hitting streak. He started Thursday’s game at shortstop, batting sixth against Dodgers starter David Price.

Tauchman had come through in big ways for the Giants with his glove, but the outfielder had trouble at the plate, slashing .178/.286/.283 in 64 games after being acquired from the Yankees on April 27.

“I think Mike is a good all-around Major League Baseball player. We talked about it in my office a little bit earlier, and my inclination is that he’s going to have a long Major League career,” manager Gabe Kapler said before Thursday’s game. “This was the right decision for the Giants, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t think that he’s a quality Major Leaguer.

“I think we would all love to see things go a little better for him at the plate and just see some of the results from all the hard work that he did.”

Sanchez returned from a rehab assignment in which he made eight outings in the Minors, going 1-2 with a 7.48 ERA. His last appearance was on July 22 with Triple-A Sacramento, and he gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Sanchez, who started six games for the Giants before landing on the 60-day injured list with right biceps soreness in May, will move to the bullpen. Kapler said Sanchez’s role in the bullpen remains flexible.

“I think we saw [on Wednesday] that we needed to get some length from a couple of pitchers to protect our entire bullpen, so it’s nice to know that Sanchez has that capability,” Kapler said. “But he’s also an experienced Major League pitcher whose stuff may play up out of the 'pen, and we’re going to see. We’re interested in trying to find the right spot for him.”

Brebbia had struggled with the Giants, pitching to a 6.60 ERA in 14 games after his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Kapler said he saw encouraging signs from Brebbia and expects him to eventually return to the big league club.

“I don’t worry about experienced Major League relievers who come in and get hit around for a while, which is sort of what happened. My concern is when those pitchers aren’t throwing strikes, and Brebbia has thrown strikes,” Kapler said. “I think he is going to be an important part of our club going forward.”

Posey not diagnosed with concussion
All-Star catcher Buster Posey was not diagnosed with a concussion after being hit in the mask with a foul tip in the second inning of Wednesday’s 8-0 loss to the Dodgers. Posey felt dizzy afterward but was able to play catch Thursday morning, Kapler said, and Posey could be available off the bench in the series finale.

“I think any time you take a ball that squarely off the mask, there’s going to be a high level of concern,” Kapler said. “There’s a lot of relief knowing that he feels good this morning and that we were able to dodge that bullet.”