WATCH: San Francisco Giants are Optimistic Despite Bumgarner and Samardzija Injuries

Hear from Bruce Bochy, Hunter Pence, Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Crawford before their exhibition game in Sacramento against the Rivercats.

BY MATT GEORGE

Mar 25, 2018, 12:00 AM Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:25 am

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants hands the ball to manager Bruce Bochy as he is relieved in the eighth innng at Dodger Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter

On Saturday night, the San Francisco Giants battled their Triple A affiliate the Sacramento Rivercats in a preseason exhibition. Just yesterday, the franchise learned that they will be starting the season without two of their top three starting pitchers.

In his final spring training start against the Kansas City Royals, Madison Bumgarner took a line drive to his pitching hand, breaking his left pinkie finger. He is expected to be out a minimum of four to six weeks, although many expect it to be close to two months.

Jeff Samardzija was also recently diagnosed with a pectoral strain, will also miss a minimum three to four weeks.

The Giants have one of the hardest schedules to start the season in the entire MLB, taking on the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in three separate series before the end of April.

Despite all that, Giants manager Bruce Bochy, as well as the Giants players, still felt pretty good about their chances heading into Opening Day on Thursday, March 29th.

Bochy, Hunter Pence, Andrew McCutchen, and Brandon Crawford spoke with KHTK before their exhibition in Sacramento about Bumgarner and the start of the season.

Manager of the @SFGiants, Bruce Bochy, shares good news about Madison Bumgarner's surgery before today's exhibition with the @RiverCats. (via @MattGeorgeKHTK) pic.twitter.com/oNV1nVHIpi

— Sports 1140 KHTK (@Sports1140KHTK) March 25, 2018

Hunter Pence talks about the injury to Madison Bumgarner and playing in Sacramento before @SFGiants v @RiverCats. (via @MattGeorgeKHTK) pic.twitter.com/m9bnneCOko

— Sports 1140 KHTK (@Sports1140KHTK) March 25, 2018

One of the @SFGiants major signings Andrew McCutchen talks about the loss of Madison Bumgarner to injury and getting used to his new team. pic.twitter.com/YPl3l3QXyb

— Matt George (@MattGeorgeKHTK) March 25, 2018

Shortstop for the @SFGiants, Brandon Crawford, talking about the injury to Madison Bumgarner & playing alongside Evan Longoria. (via @MattGeorgeKHTK) pic.twitter.com/gsHYMHsvDH

— Sports 1140 KHTK (@Sports1140KHTK) March 25, 2018