Coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history, the San Francisco Giants retooled their roster by trading for Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria, among other changes, during the offseason. The hope was acquiring the All-Stars, coupled with a full season of Madison Bumgarner, would spearhead a turnaround.
But that optimism has taken a major hit over the past two days. Jeff Samardzija was removed from a Minor League outing and sent for an MRI that revealed a pectoral strain. The Giants’ likely No. 3 starter is expected to begin the season on the disabled list.
Adding more insult to injury, Madison Bumgarner came out of his Cactus League start on Friday after being struck in his left hand by a line drive.
Bumgarner underwent an X-ray that revealed a left hand fracture, according to Chris Haft of MLB.com:
Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner was struck in his pitching hand by a line drive hit by Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in the third inning and was diagnosed with a left hand fracture.
The injury will prevent Bumgarner from starting on Opening Day, when he was slated to face Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
It also throws another season in upheaval, after Bumgarner missed three months in 2017 due to sustaining bruised ribs and a sprained left shoulder in a dirt-bike accident. He entered Friday’s game 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five Cactus League starts.
San Francisco went 29-46 in the 75 games Bumgarner missed last season.
