Giants' Tony Vitello gives streaking Rafael Devers day off to end games streak at 309

Rafael Devers ceded duties as the lone member of the Opening Day lineup in the San Francisco Giants‘ batting order Wednesday, with a day off that, according to manager Tony Vitello, will end Devers’ consecutive games streak at 309. 

The reigning NL Player of the Week, Devers had been so hot lately that it had been tough to get him any time off his legs, and with the Giants not in contention and many of the veterans on the injured list, Vitello had wanted to be cautious with Devers when possible. Devers, who has a history of hamstring issues, was on base often during his recent tear, scoring 17 runs in 16 games and putting up a 1.411 OPS. 

Devers’ hitless night Tuesday, coupled with a Giants off day Thursday, presented the best opportunity for Vitello to give the first baseman-DH some well-deserved rest. 

“The ideal situation is to have the day today and the day tomorrow,” Vitello said. “I don’t mean to speak for him, but I think he hit a little bit of a wall. When you’re hitting well, you’re on base all the time, so you add all those sprints in. He’s our best first-to-third guy, period. He’s legged out a couple doubles. All those things add up for sure on top of all the stress of carrying the offense. I’ve learned you double up the two days in a row, it can really serve as beneficial.”

The games-played streak is the third highest in the game behind Matt Olson’s 927 and Pete Alonso’s 562.

“That’s massive,” Vitello said of the total, “but I think it was time.”

Vitello said Devers is often dealing with some leg issues, playing through everything “from toe to hip,” he said.

One of the best developments in the second half has been Devers’ emergence as a true leader, something he’s appeared to embrace. Vitello mentioned that Devers had kept the mood light at New York last week with some clubhouse antics that Vitello enjoyed so much, he sent the video to third baseman Matt Chapman.

“That probably needs to stay out of the public eye, but it just kind of encapsulates the fun and the leadership,” Vitello said, adding that Devers emerging as a veteran leader “is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced as a coach.”

Devers is also chasing 40 homers; he’s five shy with 16 games left entering the day. He’d homered nine times over the previous 16 games. 

“It’s just been ridiculous,” said rookie Bryce Eldridge, who’s established himself as Devers’ protection in the order. “Pretty cool to watch from the on-deck circle. It’s like every single time he came up to bat, he was either getting walked or he was going to punish a baseball. You felt like, ‘All right, he can’t keep doing it,’ and then every single day he just keeps doing something crazier.”

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This article originally published at Giants’ Tony Vitello gives streaking Rafael Devers day off to end games streak at 309.