9 Brandon Belt, 1B

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was unable to start Wednesday against the Nationals with tightness in his back, but he appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He made the final  out of the inning and finished the game at first base.

The Giants are off Thursday, so Belt could be back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is out of Wednesday's lineup with back tightness, CSN San Francisco reports. 

Belt's injury is at a point where he could play if needed, but with the Giants facing a lefty in Gio Gonzalez, manager Bruce Bochy is taking the opportunity to let the back heal up. Brett Pill will get the start in Belt's place

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has continued to sit against occasional lefties, holding back his point total in Head-to-Head leagues, but if he keeps hitting like he has over his last 26 games, producing a .321 (25 for 78) batting average, six home runs, 10 walks and a 1.020 OPS, he'll entrench himself as an everyday player once and for all.

And Fantasy stardom may follow.

Is it really so far-fetched? We've been waiting for this guy to step up his power production for a couple of years now. In that 26-game stretch, he has nearly as many home runs as he hit in 145 games last year. And that's after ranking among the league leaders in home runs this spring. If that's not stepping it up, I don't know what is.

Not that I think Belt is going to hit 30 home runs or compete for NL MVP. But if you're still messing around with Todd Frazier or Paul Konerko at DH, it's time to upgrade.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt matched a career high with four hits Monday during an 8-0 win over the Nationals. Belt also hit his sixth home run of the season.

He went 4 for 5 with four runs scored. Belt singled three times and added a solo blast in the fifth off Craig Stammen. The four-hit game gives Belt a .261 average. He had four hits total in his previous five games combined.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been heating up over his last 20 games, batting .305 with five home runs. So, why is he still owned in less than 60 percent of leagues?

Our Nando Di Fino said on Friday’s broadcast of Fantasy Baseball Today that he doesn’t see Belt’s ownership percentage staying low for very long. The term “breakout” was tossed around a few times in his assessment of Belt’s expected rest-of-season production.