Bryce

Eldridge

This is the first game with Eldridge in the lineup since Luis Arraez was traded. Eldridge has also led off before, but, notably, he’s doing so against a lefty on Wednesday. If this change were permanent, it would likely hurt his RBI totals, but be good for his overall plate appearances and run totals.

Eldridge receives some extra rest to address a lingering thumb bruise, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready to return to the lineup rather quickly. The 21-year-old former top prospect should play everyday for San Francisco over the final two months in the wake of their trade deadline teardown. He offers enough over-the-fence power to be interesting in deeper mixed leagues until further notice.

Eldridge prevented the Giants from getting shut out on Tuesday, taking Grant Anderson deep for a two-run homer in the eighth inning. It was the 11th home run of the season for the 21-year-old slugger. He’s slashing a solid .256/.356/.463 with 33 runs scored and 25 RBI across 264 plate appearances while displaying impressive hard-hit and barrel rates that make him a young power-hitter on the rise.

Eldridge had three of the four hardest-hit balls of the game, coming in at 106.1 mph on his homer in the fourth, 108.5 mph on a lineout in the fifth and 108.1 mph on a single in the eighth. Hopefully, it means he’s escaping the drought that saw him hit .177 with one homer in his previous 17 games. That previous homer also came against Rockies pitching.

Eldridge doubled to drive in a run in the first inning, then took Sean Sullivan deep for a solo homer in the third. It was a 458-foot shot to right field. The 21-year-old slugger is up to seven homers, 24 runs scored, and 19 RBI while slashing .280/.368/.484 across 185 plate appearances.

If you’re going to have to take a day off on occasion, doing so against Chris Sale isn’t the worst idea in the world. Heliot Ramos will function as the Giants’ designated hitter in his place on Sunday while Victor Bericoto draws a start in right field and will bat eighth for the Giants.

Since delivering his walkoff grand slam against the Nationals on June 10, Eldridge had hit second in 11 of the Giants’ last 12 games and third in the other. He homered again in the first of those games, but in the last 11, he’s hit .179/.319/.282. As a result, he’s back down to sixth today. Casey Schmitt is batting second, and Jung Hoo Lee has been moved up to third. Eldridge should stay in the Giants lineup against righties after Heliot Ramos is activated from the IL, something that’s supposed to happen within the next couple of days, but he’ll probably start doing some sitting against lefties. He could cease being worthy of a roster spot in shallow leagues.

The rest of the Giants combined for one hit in the game. Eldridge’s homer came in the bottom of the ninth with the team down 5-0, but unlike Wednesday’s game against the Nationals, the Giants did not have the Cubs right where they wanted them. Eldridge has five homers in 113 plate appearances since his callup. He might keep up that pace, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll maintain his current .316 average.

Eldridge also added a walk and a second run scored, homering for the second time in as many days. The 21-year-old first baseman/DH entered this one having hit .447/.512/.737 over his past 43 plate appearances, and Thursday’s performance will only juice those numbers. Eldridge was playing sparingly when he was first recalled from Triple-A, but he’s been in the lineup for 15 of the Giants’ past 16 contests. He’s yet to bat higher than fifth, but manager Tony Vitello will have no choice but to move him up if he continues to slug like this.

Eldridge continues to raise the question as to why the Giants took so long to make him an everyday regular. He reached three times on a hit and two walks on Tuesday before taking Orlando Ribalta deep for a solo homer in the ninth. The home run was his third of the season while hitting an excellent .300/.385/.500 with 15 runs scored and eight RBI across 104 plate appearances. The most encouraging development for the 21-year-old slugger is the 22.1 percent strikeout rate.