SAN FRANCISCO — There was a familiar face Saturday making his return to Oracle Park: Austin Slater, reinstated from the injured list earlier that day, was penciled in the leadoff spot of the Giants lineup for the middle game of their three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
To make room, the Giants optioned fellow outfielder Steven Duggar to their alternate training site in Sacramento.
The first pitch Slater sees will come from another guy back in San Francisco for the first time in a while: Madison Bumgarner, making his first start against the team with whom he won three World Series titles (and also returning from a brief injured-list stint).