LOS ANGELES — Justin Verlander took another step in his recovery from right pectoral tightness, throwing a bullpen session on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium prior to the Giants’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Bob Melvin said “there’s a chance” Verlander returns from the 15-day injured list during San Francisco’s upcoming nine-game home stand against the Cleveland Guardians, Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins. Verlander threw a live bullpen during the Giants’ previous series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
Once Verlander, 42, returns from the injured list, left-hander Kyle Harrison is the most likely candidate to transition to the bullpen. Melvin responded “not necessarily” when asked if Harrison would be the starter moved to the bullpen, but Harrison makes the most sense given he joined the rotation in response to Verlander’s injury.
“We haven’t talked to any of those guys yet,” Melvin said. “I’m not going to say what’s going to happen and when until we get home and we get through this series here.”
Over four starts, Harrison has allowed 10 earned runs over 18 1/3 innings (4.91 ERA) with 18 strikeouts to six walks. Harrison is currently scheduled to start tomorrow for San Francisco against the Dodgers’ Dustin May as the rivals face off on Sunday Night Baseball.
The Giants still view the 23-year-old Harrison as a starter long term, but Harrison stands to spend the majority of this season in the bullpen. In four appearances as a reliever this season, Harrison has allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings (3.38 ERA) with seven strikeouts.
“One thing I do know is you’re not going to have five or six starters over the course of the season,” Melvin said earlier this month about Harrison’s development. “When Verlander’s back in, that obviously could potentially be the move. There’s still some room for a length lefty, but that’s something we’re going to have to be cognizant of over the course of the season: make sure he gets some innings in to be prepared to do what we expect him to do for a long time.”
Verlander, who has a 4.33 ERA over 10 starts with San Francisco, was placed on the injured list on May 22 (retroactive to May 19). Upon returning, Verlander will continue his search for his first win as a Giant (0-3).
Former teammates Lee, Kim to face each other for first time
The Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee and the Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim are both scheduled to start on Saturday evening, providing the long-time friends with their first opportunity to play against one another in the majors.
“I went to the national team with him and we went to the playoffs together,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han. “A lot of good memories playing together.”
Kim and Lee both played for the South Korean national team before becoming professionals, then were both drafted by the Kiwoom Heroes (previously known as the Nexen Heroes) in 2016. They played seven seasons together from 2017-23 before Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract to join the Giants. Kim and Lee led the Heroes to the Korean Series, the KBO’s championship series, in ’19 and ’22 but would lose both times.
“We talked prior to the game and we talk on a daily basis,” Lee said. “When I get to see him on the field, I’ll go over and talk to him, maybe tell him a joke.”
Kim, 26, began this season in the minors after signing a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers this past offseason but was promoted by Los Angeles in early May. Entering Saturday, Kim is hitting .391/.435/.563 with two home runs, 10 RBIs and six steals
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