11:17PM: Manager Gabe Kapler confirmed that Posey wouldn’t be starting Monday’s game, but told reporters (including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area) that Posey might be available off the bench.
11:01PM: Giants catcher Buster Posey left tonight’s game with a left thumb contusion after he was struck by a foul ball from the Diamondbacks’ Daulton Varsho. Posey stayed in the game for the remainder of Varsho’s at-bat but was then replaced behind the plate by backup Curt Casali.
X-rays were negative on Posey’s thumb, as reported by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (Twitter links) and other journalists following the game. This is undoubtedly a huge sign of relief for the team and San Francisco fans, given how a more severe injury could have threatened to derail both the Giants’ dream season and Posey’s big comeback year. The veteran is hitting .328/.421/.547 with 12 home runs through 233 plate appearances, and is on pace for his best season since his MVP campaign in 2012.
Posey’s resurgence earned him a well-deserved starting slot on the NL All-Star team, though his participation in his seventh Midsummer Classic might now be up in the air if the Giants want him to take it easy in the wake of this injury. An injured list visit might not be entirely out of the question, though Baggarly notes that Posey was already scheduled to sit during tomorrow’s game with the Cardinals. The Giants also have an off-day on Thursday, so this rest might be enough for Posey to avoid the IL.
Casali has posted some decent numbers during his career but hasn’t produced much in 2021, hitting only .192/.298/.313 in 114 PA. He could handle the starting duties in the event of a brief Posey IL stint, and Chadwick Tromp would likely be called up from Triple-A for backup duty. Top prospect Joey Bart is demolishing pitching at Triple-A, though Bart is himself dealing with an injury after being hit by a pitch on his foot during Friday’s game.
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