Willy Adames (back) sits once again on Sunday

Adames remains day-to-day with what the Giants are calling a mild lower back strain. Christian Koss is playing shortstop today.

Giants’ skipper Tony Vietllo told reporters on Friday that Adames had an MRI on his back on Thursday which revealed only a minor lower back strain. He’s considered day-to-day and still isn’t expected to require a trip to the injured list. Christian Koss will start in his place at shortstop and bat ninth for the Giants against Rockies’ left-hander Kyle Freeland on Friday evening in San Francisco.

Vitello added that Adames will sit out Friday’s series opener against the Rockies in an effort to put a lingering back problem to bed. The issue flared up and led to his removal from the late stages of Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros. The 30-year-old shortstop has been dealing with back spasms for a couple weeks at this juncture. It’s impossible to completely rule out a trip to the injured list, especially given everything we know about persistent back issues, but it sounds like Adames will be ready to return this weekend.

Adames appeared to be dealing with some back discomfort following a seventh-inning flip to start a double play. He was replaced at shortstop by Buddy Kennedy in the eighth inning after going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. There should be an update on his status following the contest.

Adames tagged Tigers’ right-hander Keider Montero for a 367-foot (106.5-mph EV) solo shot in the fifth inning that capped off the scoring in the ballgame. That would be his lone hit in four at-bats on the night which included a pair of strikeouts. On the season, the 30-year-old shortstop is now hitting .221/.279/.414 with the aforementioned 19 homers and 48 RBI.

Adames’ home run was his 18th of the season. He hit a two-run, game-tying home run off Alex Lange with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. It was a clutch home run by Adames, though the Giants would lose in the bottom of the ninth inning. He’s hitting .228 with a .713 OPS and 44 RBI.

Adames’ shot to right center in the seventh inning was the first homer allowed by Nick Davila in 20 1/3 innings since he debuted in May. It’s his seventh career grand slam. He’s driven in nine runs in 11 games this month.

The Giants got their go-ahead run in the eighth when Hunter Goodman threw the ball into center on Grant McCray’s steal attempt, allowing Rafael Devers to score from third. Adames then singled in McCray for an insurance run. It was Adames’s first three-hit game since May 16. He had been off to a 5-for-32 start this month.

Adames had missed the teams previous three games due to back spasms. He’s feeling much better after the off-day though and is finally ready to return to action. He’s starting at shortstop and batting sixth against Rockies’ right-hander Ryan Feltner on Friday evening.

Giants skipper Tony Vitello told reporters earlier this week that Adames was trending in the right direction and it sounds like there’s a chance he’ll be ready for Friday’s series opener against the Rockies at Coors Field. The 30-year-old is sitting out his third consecutive contest due to back spasms. It’ll be Christian Koss filling in at shortstop in his absence.