SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants know shortstop Brandon Crawford will be back and ready to play on Thursday.
They’ll know more about pitcher Johnny Cueto on Wednesday.
Crawford left the club for maternity leave and will be back Wednesday night and in the lineup Thursday, manager Bruce Bochy said.
Cueto had an encouraging 40-pitch bullpen session Monday before the Giants faced the Miami Marlins at AT&T Park and could be sent for a rehab assignment soon.
“He threw everything. All his different deliveries, he threw from the stretch, he threw all four pitches,” Bochy said. “He’s good with all that. It’s just a matter of how he feels tomororw.”
Cueto, through an interpreter, echoed Bochy’s thoughts.
“I was throwing all my pitches, everything was working and I guess the next step for me is to go down to the minor leagues and do a rehab,” Cueto said through an interpreter. “My plan is maybe go to the minor leagues and throw two games and hopefully from there I’m back.”
Bochy said even if things go well, seeing Cueto back on the mound in a big league game before the end of June is probably too ambitious.
Crawford and his wife Jalynne are expecting their fourth child. With the delivery coming by C-section, according to Bochy, they were aware of the birth date and when Crawford would be back in the lineup.
With Crawford out of the lineup, the Giants’ leading hitter (.315) was replaced by Kelby Tomlinson in the starting lineup. Tomlinson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
— Third baseman Evan Longoria will have hand surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
— Pitcher Jeff Samardzija will pitch again Thursday in a rehab start after getting glowing reviews on his first outing.
Although Samardzija (right shoulder strain) struggled after coming off the disabled list for a pectoral strain at the beginning of the season, Bochy said he has made better progress this time.
“He came out free and easy, the (velocity) was there, all his pitches were crisper,” Bochy said. “He feels a lot better than he did during his rehab last time.”