NEW YORK: Star catcher Buster Posey was left out of the San Francisco Giants starting lineup for the second straight game Thursday night due to left knee discomfort.
Posey was on the bench for the major leagues in the major leagues, but first baseman Brandon Belt was unavailable against the New York Mets after moving to the mourning list to attend his grandmother’s funeral.
In addition, second baseman Donovan Solano was left on the injured list for no reason, which is how the Giants have been managing the movements of the COVID-19 IL this season. San Francisco remembered Captor Chadwick Tromp and his interior Thairo Estrada from Triple-A Sacramento.
Posey, 34, was retired in the fifth inning Tuesday night during an 8-0 win over the Mets after plate referee Greg Gibson told San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler that Posey it seemed out.
Posey won 3-2 on Wednesday in favor of Curt Casali, who also grabbed the series finale.
“No long-term worries for Buster. Just give him an extra day. That’s what we thought was best,” Kapler said.
Posey has tested his knee in a squat position on a receiver and has felt improvement since he was retired on Tuesday, his manager said.
“I don’t think it hurts a lot, it’s more about all the different positions you can get into a game and not wanting to get out of a game,” Kapler explained.
Posey, a seven-time All-Star and 2012 NL MVP, is resurfacing a year after skipping the reduced coronavirus season of 2020 when he and his wife adopted twin girls who were born prematurely. He started the day beating .314 with 15 homers, 39 RBI and a .925 OPS.
Belt hit two home runs Tuesday night and dedicated them to his grandmother after he died that morning. With funeral service scheduled for Friday, Kapler said Belt would likely rejoin the team on Saturday in Atlanta and be activated on Sunday.
“That’s not marked, but here we are where we are now,” Kapler said Thursday afternoon.
Wilmer Flores started at Giants first base against his original team.
In addition, right-hander Anthony DeSclafani had planned to throw a bullpen with a view to getting off the injured list on Sunday to start in Atlanta.
DeSclafani came out of his Aug. 18 start against the Mets after being injured while covering first base. He was placed on the 10-day IL with inflammation of his right ankle.