Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The San Francisco Giants placed starting first baseman Brandon Belt on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb fracture, the team announced Tuesday. The move is retroactive to Monday.
"It's not optimal, but I think we're going to be fine because our players are prepared for it," Giants manager Gabe Kapler told reporters.
Belt exited in the seventh inning of the Giants' 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday after getting struck on the left hand with a pitch while squaring to bunt.
On Monday, the Giants said X-rays revealed the broken bone and Belt will "continue to meet with doctors over the next couple of days to develop a recovery plan and timetable for his return."
Belt's injury is a significant blow for the Giants, who entered Tuesday with a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West race. The 33-year-old Belt has a .274 batting average with a career-best 29 home runs and 59 RBIs this season.
In 1,233 career games with the Giants, Belt has a .264 batting average with 167 home runs and 561 RBIs.
San Francisco, seeking its first division title since 2012, began a home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. LaMonte Wade Jr. got the start at first base in place of Belt in that matchup.
