SAN FRANCISCO -- As anticipated, the Giants got one big left-handed bat back on Wednesday -- but they lost another.
Pablo Sandoval was put on the Injured List because of inflammation in his right elbow as Alex Dickerson returned from a stint with an oblique strain. Dickerson is expected to start Friday night in Phoenix, but manager Bruce Bochy said it's unclear when Sandoval will return.
Sandoval has had bone chips in his right elbow since 2013 but they flared up recently and he got a cortisone injection on Sunday. The Giants were hopeful that would calm the pain, but it didn't make much of an impact. Sandoval right now is limited to hitting from the left side.
"I won't help anybody like that," he said. "I want to be straight up with my manager and tell the truth. It's frustrating but at the same time you have to take care of yourself to be ready for September and to make a push."
The Giants could ultimately decide to use Sandoval just from the left side and limit him to first base defensively, but that would take away some of their lineup flexibility. Sandoval was hopeful 10 days of rest would get him playable. He said that right now, he's "pretty beat up."
Dickerson played that way for awhile but got two weeks to try and get right so the Giants can use him on a more frequent basis. He got four plate appearances during a rehab game for Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday night.
The Giants are averaging 3.8 runs per game this season without Dickerson and 5.5 runs with him.
