San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt seen in this Sat Jun 19, 2021 photo after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies and congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus will be on the injured list after suffering a leg injury against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

After sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in a two-game series to strengthen their position as the best team in the league with a 48-26 record, the San Francisco Giants enjoyed Thursday off. The Giants sit 4 games ahead of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

The only bad news for the Giants from Wednesday was that first baseman Brandon Belt could be going back on the injured list. Belt suffered a possible leg injury while trying to score the go-ahead run when a throw to third base got away from the Angels’ Anthony Rendon. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said after the game that Belt injured his right knee and would get an MRI.

Belt’s apparent injury comes after he missed 11 games this season due to a left oblique strain. The Giants’ offense will suffer if Belt is indeed placed back on the injured list. With the team being off on Wednesday, there was no word on Belt’s condition, so fans will have to wait until Thursday to find out his status.

The Giants host the Oakland A’s for the first of three games in the Bay Bridge Series on Friday at 6:45 p.m. The crowd at Oracle Park is expected to reach close to full capacity, and be the biggest since 2019 before the pandemic. The Giants and A’s are two of the best teams in the league. The A’s (46-31) are second in the AL West and lost two of the first three games in the series against the Texas Rangers but won on Thursday. The Giants have won three straight games.

San Francisco’s starting pitcher on Friday will be Johnny Cueto, who has 68 hits, 27 earned runs and allowed eight homers, 11 walks, 47 strikeouts and has a 4.05 ERA across 60 innings this season. Meanwhile, Oakland will start with Sean Manaea, who has 84 hits, 29 earned runs and allowed eight homers, 21 walks, 89 strikeouts and has a 3.01 ERA across 86.2 innings.