San Francisco Giants DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Francisco Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) will have season-ending surgery on Monday and will have an ulnar-nerve transposition. Winn has been on the injured list since June with a nerve issue in his right elbow and he'll now be forced to miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Because of the nature of his surgery, there's a good chance that the 26-year-old won't be ready for the start of spring training next year or the 2025 regular season. Before his right-elbow injury cropped up, Winn went 3-8 with a rough 7.16 ERA (4.82 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks in 55 1/3 innings over 12 starts in his second year in the big leagues with the Gigantes. Anyone that was holding onto him in deep NL-only leagues can now let go.

The San Francisco Giants placed infielder Thairo Estrada (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a left-wrist sprain and recalled infielder Casey Schmitt from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. With Estrada on the shelf, Schmitt will start at the keystone and bat eighth on Friday against the visiting Colorado Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland. This will be the second time this year that Estrada has landed on the IL with a left-wrist sprain. The 28-year-old infielder has really only been valuable for middle-infield depth in deep-mixed leagues, at best, in 2024. Estrada is currently hitting just .216/.249/.353 with a weak .601 OPS, nine homers and 43 RBI in 87 games played in his fourth year in San Fran. Expect Schmitt to split time at second with Brett Wisely with Estrada on the shelf.

The San Francisco Giants are receiving plenty of interest in starting pitcher Blake Snell, who is coming off his third strong start in a row. His past three starts have all come after his latest trip to the IL, but it appears he is healthy now as he has looked more like his 2023 self recently. The lefty signed a two-year deal with the Giants before this season, but the contract includes an opt-out after this season, so the team could look to deal Snell now and possibly get a big return. The reigning Cy Young winner would be a welcome addition to any contender's rotation.

The San Francisco Giants placed first baseman/designated hitter Wilmer Flores (knee) back on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with right-knee tendonitis and recalled infielder David Villar from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Flores will go back on the IL after returning two weeks ago from the same ailment. The 32-year-old veteran right-handed bat is having a tough season, injuries aside, and is batting .206 (44-for-214) with only four home runs, 26 RBI and 19 runs scored in 71 games played in his 12th year in the big leagues. Villar is starting at first base and batting sixth for the Giants on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw, but he's merely going to be the backup at first base for regular LaMonte Wade Jr. with Flores back on the shelf.

San Francisco Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and outfielder Michael Conforto are both starting on the bench for Thursday's series finale against the hosting division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers with left-hander Clayton Kershaw making his 2024 debut. David Villar will get the nod at first base and will hit sixth, while Derek Hill will draw into the lineup in left field and will bat in the nine-hole for the Giants against Kershaw. Villard does have a homer and two RBI in nine career at-bats against Kershaw but is also hitting .111 against him with a .555 OPS. Wade is hitting nearly .300 in 188 at-bats for the Gigantes this year but has missed time with injury and has provided fantasy managers with just three homers and 19 RBI. Conforto has actually fared better against lefties in 2024 but overall has been a below-average hitter, slashing .224/.296/.410 with 10 homers and 39 RBI in 268 at-bats.