Programming note: Watch Giants-Dodgers tonight at 7:15 on NBC Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants activated left-hander Jeremy Affeldt from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Juan Perez to Triple-A Fresno prior to Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park.
Affeldt sprained a knee ligament toward the end of spring training when he neglected to wear his knee brace in an exhibition game. He has made rehab appearances for Triple-A Fresno and Single-A San Jose, throwing two scoreless innings on 22 pitches Sunday, and he passed a final test by throwing 15 pitches off a bullpen mound on Tuesday. He's expected to resume his prime setup role along with right-hander Santiago Casilla for closer Sergio Romo.
The Giants already were leaning toward expanding to 13 pitches before they used all seven relievers in Tuesday night's 12-inning victory over the Dodgers. The long game pretty much cinched the deal. Perez was in the unfortunate position of having a minor league option; the Giants didn't have that flexibility with any of their current relievers, and all have made positive contributions thus far.
It remains to be seen how long the Giants will stay with 13 pitchers, which isn't easy for an NL team, especially, to do. But one immediate offshoot is that left fielder Michael Morse might play a bit deeper in games now that the Giants don't have a fifth outfielder. Morse got smoked on the elbow by a pitch Tuesday night, and while it might be purple, it's also playable. He's in Wednesday's lineup.
