DENVER -- Center fielder Kevin Pillar and catcher Buster Posey were not in Saturday's starting lineup against the Rockies at Coors Field, though both came into the game in the eighth inning, with Posey delivering the difference-maker in the 6-5 victory with his pinch-hit, two-run double.

Pillar also missed Friday's contest after coming away with a sore left hip and tight lower back from crashing into the wall at Citizens Bank Park while trying to rob a J.T. Realmuto home run Thursday.

"He's doing better," manager Bruce Bochy said of Pillar prior to the game. "Could he play? Yes. I just think he could use another day. With [Steven] Duggar here, that allows us to do this. We could use him off the bench tonight, and tomorrow we'll have him ready to go."

Bochy said the decision was made because right-hander Jon Gray was Saturday's starter and a left-hander, Kyle Freeland, is slated to start for Colorado on Sunday. When asked whether the day off had anything to do with a foul ball he took off his midsection during Friday's game, Posey said he was fine.

In other news on injured Giants, third baseman Evan Longoria remains on track to return to the lineup for Sunday's series finale. He has missed the last three weeks due to a strained plantar fascia in his left foot.

"I checked with the medical staff after the game last night, and all feels good as far as the body, and he passed all the tests and he'll play tomorrow," Bochy said.

"It's always good to have your guys back, and he's one of our guys. He's gonna make this lineup better, he's gonna lengthen it out. As you well know, he was swinging the bat as well as anybody when we had to put him on the injured list."

Prior to the injury, Longoria was hitting .400 (12-for-30) with six home runs in nine July games. With San Francisco's lineup cooling off following a torrid July, slashing .237/.307/.378 over the last eight games, of which five have been losses, Longoria's return to the middle of the batting order will be a welcome development.

Another Giant whose return has been highly anticipated is right-hander Johnny Cueto, who had Tommy John surgery last August. He is slated to make his first rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona League on Sunday. He threw against hitters earlier in the week at the Giants' Spring Training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz. The club is hoping he'll be back in the starting rotation by September.

Orioles claim Blach, Winkler clears waivers

The Orioles claimed left-hander Ty Blach off waivers from the Giants on Saturday. San Francisco designated Blach for assignment on July 27. He posted a 4.36 ERA over 85 appearances (39 starts) for the Giants from 2016-18. In two appearances (6 1/3 innings) this season, he surrendered 10 runs on 14 hits. At Triple-A Sacramento, he had a 5.93 ERA in 17 games (15 starts).

Dan Winkler, part of the return in the trade that sent Mark Melancon to the Braves, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Sacramento. In 27 appearances for Atlanta this season, the 29-year-old right-hander posted a 4.98 ERA.