San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has been rested for Monday’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lee went hitless in five at-bats during Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the San Diego Padres before being excluded from Monday’s starting lineup.
The 28-year-old outfielder has played 137 games in his third Major League Baseball season, all with San Francisco. He is currently batting .276 with 143 hits, nine home runs, 55 RBIs, 63 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. But after starting on Sunday night in California, Lee was left out of the team’s announced batting order for the game in Missouri.
His availability highlights the remarkable level of roster turnover the club has experienced this year. Emphasizing the disruption to the team’s original plans, Justice delos Santos of Mercury News wrote: “On the position player side, Jung Hoo Lee is the only member of the Opening Day lineup who hasn’t had a season-ending injury or been traded.”
With Lee resting, San Francisco announced Jonah Cox in center field, leading off the order. Bryce Eldridge bats second at first base, followed by Shay Whitcomb at second base, Turner Hill at designated hitter, and Brett Harris at third base. Scott Bandura starts in right field, Andrew Knizner takes the catcher’s role, Grant McCray plays left field, and Christian Koss completes the infield at shortstop.
The Giants enter the series sitting fourth in the National League West, holding a 62-88 record through 150 games. Recent form offers little comfort, with San Francisco winning four and losing six of their last ten fixtures. Away performances have been a key issue, with the team collecting just 26 wins from 75 games on the road.
St. Louis also sits fourth in their division, holding a 74-76 record in the National League Central after losing six of their last ten matches.
Following three games in St. Louis, the Giants visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.
