Smith landed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain prior to Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving San Francisco without its best defensive first baseman for at least the next week-and-a-half. With 15 games remaining, Smith may not have enough time to rehab the injury and return for the end of the regular season. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Jerar Encarnacion was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after he dealt with his own right hamstring strain.
ST. LOUIS The Giants lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Saturday night at Busch Stadium as closer Ryan Walker allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth without recording a single out, ending San Francisco's winning streak at five games. Nolan Gorman and Mason Wynn led off the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back singles, then Walker loaded the bases by plunking Jimmy Crooks.
NEW YORK - The San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees to start Major League Baseball's season on March 25, the earliest opening day other than international games. MLB said Tuesday the other 28 teams open the following day, with Kansas City at Atlanta, Minnesota at Baltimore, Washington at the Chicago Cubs, Boston at Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Angels at Houston, Arizona at the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado at Miami.