Giants lose Mike Yastrzemski to COVID-19 list after positive test – San Francisco Chronicle
WASHINGTON — Mike Yastrzemski was just starting to get on a roll when a positive coronavirus test landed him on the COVID-19 injured list.
Yastrzemski, who is vaccinated and boosted, is the first Giants player to go on the COVID IL this season. The MLB protocols call for close contact tracing, so there is the potential for more members of the team to be at risk, as often is the case around pro sports in the pandemic era.
The Giants could not get another player to Nationals Park in time for Sunday’s finale so they played with a 27-man roster. They will add a player in Milwaukee on Monday, with utility player Luke Williams and outfielder Heliot Ramos among the possibilities.
LaMonte Wade Jr., a left-handed-hitting possibility, just started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento after missing the start of the season with a knee injury; he walked and scored a run in three plate appearances and had Sunday off.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Yastrzemski felt some symptoms Saturday, including a sore throat, but had improved Sunday. He will remain in Washington and must have two negative tests to return to action. Vaccinated players may begin such tests two days after the initial positive test.
Yastrzemski was 7-for-15 with a homer over his past four games.
“He was obviously playing really good baseball,” Kapler said. “He was in the lineup today. It’s disappointing.”
With Yastrzemski out, Joc Pederson hit leadoff and played right field, Darin Ruf was in left, with Luis González in center.
The Giants had several players on the COVID IL last season, some for positive tests, including infielder Donovan Solano, coach Justin Viele and starter Alex Wood; Wood was quite ill for more than a week. A number of pitchers missed minimal time on the COVID IL after receiving their second vaccinations.
Rotation watch: The Giants will have lefty Sam Long make his second start in four days Monday at Milwaukee in a bullpen game against reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, with Carlos Rodón starting Tuesday against Oakland.
Wednesday’s game is TBA, with Jakob Junis a possibility to get the bulk of the work.
Susan Slusser covers the Giants for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser
