Programming note: Nationals-Giants coverage starts tonight at 6:30 p.m. with Giants Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Giants manager Bruce Bochy assumed Santiago Casilla ripped a major tendon or ligament when he was rolling around in agony at Coors Field last month.
Turns out he’ll probably end up being without his top right-handed setup man for just four weeks.
Casilla’s strained hamstring passed fielding tests Tuesday and so he’ll pitch an inning for Single-A San Jose on Thursday. If all goes well, he’d throw two innings for the Single-A club on Saturday. He’ll be reevaluated after that, but Bochy said there’s a good chance he’ll be activated Tuesday when the Giants begin a two-game road series against the Chicago White Sox.
“No question, I thought the worst when he went down,” Bochy said of Casilla. “The way he was rolling around and screaming in pain, I thought somethinig had detached from the bone.”
It’s possible the Giants could go back to a 13-man staff when they activate Casilla. It could come down to how well George Kontos is throwing, since he’s the only reliever with an option. Angel Pagan’s health could be a factor, too. Pagan is back in the lineup Tuesday after missing two games with a shin contusion. But if he’s day-to-day, the Giants might be more apt to keep fifth outfielder Juan Perez.
