The Giants will be without their best defensive first baseman for the foreseeable future.

San Francisco placed Dominic Smith on the IL on Saturday with a right hamstring strain after the 30-year-old made an incredible hustle play with third baseman Matt Chapman to end the top of the fourth inning in a crucial 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Oracle Park.

After Chapman dove into the 5-6 hole and popped up with a throw to first, Smith stretched out and did the splits to ensure the Giants got the out — but it cost him.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said they are deeming it a “moderate” sprain until further evaluation Saturday night, adding it will be at least a 10-day IL stint.

Sitting at 75-72 and a half-game back of the third and final NL wild-card spot, the Giants have 15 games to continue trending upward. Melvin believes it’s a long shot that Smith will be a part of that challenge.

“Well, he’s not a speedster,” Melvin said. “Hamstrings typically take a couple of weeks. I know he’ll be itching, so it just kind of depends on what we need him to do. Our doctors will have more clarity today.”

Jerar Encarnacion will take Smith’s roster spot, but the Giants will stick with Wilmer Flores and Rafael Devers interchanging at first base during Smith’s absence.

Devers has played first base for the Giants 20 times this season since being traded to San Francisco.

“I think he’s way more comfortable now than he was early on,” Melvin said of Devers. “But he looks like he’s fine out there. The only thing I worry about is the ankle thing he had going on, but I think he’s past that now. And talking to him yesterday, he was ready to play first base today.”

The Giants have won 13 of their last 18 games, and they’ll have to find a way to keep the momentum going without Smith’s impact both defensively and offensively.

“He’s been great, both offensively and defensively, hitting in the middle of the order and getting big hits for us,” Melvin said. “I think this is probably as comfortable as he’s been in a long time with the team, too. He’s well-received here and respected here. You’re going to have certain injuries over the course of the season that are impactful.

“This is definitely one for us.”

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