LOS ANGELES — Less than an hour before first pitch on Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants announced that first baseman Bryce Eldridge was scratched from the starting lineup due to a head laceration.
Infielder Brett Harris entered the starting lineup in Eldridge’s place, playing first base and batting seventh.
It is currently unclear when or how Eldridge, who participated in the Giants’ pregame activities, sustained the injury.
The 21-year-old Eldridge has been one of the Giants’ few bright spots this season, hitting .269 with 17 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .825 OPS as a rookie.
Flora dominates in Double-A debut
The Giants wanted to give Jackson Flora one final challenge before the end of his first taste of pro ball, and the 21-year-old right-hander was more than up for the task.
In his first appearance for Double-A Richmond on Thursday, Flora threw two perfect innings with four strikeouts in a do-or-die Game 2 of the Southwest Division Series.
Flora, the Giants’ top pitching prospect, began his night by striking out the side in the top of the first inning (all swinging) before retiring all three batters he faced in the second.
Given how well he performed in his Double-A debut, Flora made a very compelling case for starting next season in Richmond and skipping High-A Eugene.
“It might do more than nudge, but I’ve got to be careful; I don’t want [vice president of player development] Randy Winn to get too mad at me,” said general manager Zack Minasian. “I’ll say this for Jackson: He’s put himself in such a great spot with the season ending and what can be next year.”
Worth noting
Minasian said infielder Marcelo Mayer, who has yet to make his Giants debut after being acquired at the trade deadline, could possibly play before the end of the season.
Mayer, who is recovering from a right foot bone bruise, ran the bases before Friday’s game against the Dodgers, one of the last hurdles he needs to clear.