SAN DIEGO — Bruce Bochy is giving first baseman Brandon Belt the day off Sunday after Belt went 0-for-5 for the third straight game in Saturday’s loss to the Padres.
“He needs a break,” Bochy said. “Probably a mental break as much as anything. We all go through tough times, but he’s available to come off the bench.”
Belt isn’t the only Giants veteran struggling, but his inability to reach base out of the leadoff spot has proved costly for the club as San Francisco has lost two of its last three.
Tyler Austin will start in Belt’s place in a game that could be important in determining what kind of role Austin will play with the Giants moving forward.