Jackson is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

As has been the case so far this season, Jackson will take a seat on the bench with a right-handed starter (Zack Greinke) toeing the rubber for the opposition. In his place, Gorkys Hernandez will start in center field and hit eighth.

Jackson (groin) is back in the lineup Saturday in San Diego, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson left Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks with groin tightness and had yet to return to the lineup. Before the injury, the veteran outfielder was hitting .258/.294/.290 through his first 8 games. His numbers will likely rise somewhat, but he's been a below-average hitter in three of the past four seasons, so expectations should be kept fairly low.

Jackson (groin) is out of the lineup for Friday's contest against San Diego, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson will remain on the bench after dealing with groin tightness during Wednesday's outing. With right-hander Tyson Ross taking the mound for the Padres, it was expected that Jackson would be absent from the starting nine anyways, though he should return to the lineup Saturday against southpaw Clayton Richard. Gregor Blanco will man center field and bat eighth Friday.

Jackson (groin) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson exited Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks with groin tightness, but he was unlikely to start Thursday regardless. Right-hander Bryan Mitchell will take the mound for the Padres, and Jackson has yet to face a right-handed starter this season. Manager Bruce Bochy indicated he expects the 31-year-old to be available for the series in San Diego, but Gregor Blanco will take starting duties in center field for San Francisco on Thursday.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Jackson exited Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks in the seventh inning because of groin tightness, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored before giving way to Gregor Blanco prior to the seventh inning. Fortunately, Bochy didn't seem concerned about the severity of the injury, noting that he expects the outfielder to be ready for the team's upcoming series against the Padres, which starts Thursday.

Jackson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

As has been the case so far this season, Jackson will take a seat on the bench with a right-handed pitcher (Zack Godley) starting for the opposing team. The Giants have predominantly matched up against southpaws to start the season -- facing just two righty starters through eight games -- so it's unclear if Jackson will continue to occupy the smaller side of a platoon with Gregor Blanco moving forward or if it's just a way for manager Bruce Bochy to give Jackson a day off while playing matchups. Blanco is starting in center field and hitting eighth Monday in Jackson's place.

Jackson is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gregor Blanco will play center field in Jackson's place. The left-handed Blanco has been preferred to the right-handed Jackson against both righties the Giants have faced so far this year. It's possible that Jackson will occupy the short side of a platoon in center this year, which would cut into his playing time significantly, though it won't be easy to tell until the Giants start facing more right-handed pitchers. It currently looks as though they'll face lefties in their next three games, all against the Dodgers, so Jackson should be in the lineup for the entire series.

Jackson will be the Giants' leadoff hitters against left-handed pitchers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson slashed an impressive .352/.440/.574 against southpaws last season with the Indians, so he's a natural fit for the leadoff role with his new club. He should see a fair amount of run-scoring opportunities hitting atop the Giants' refurbished lineup, but he may not contribute much in the other fantasy categories.

Jackson could see time as the Giants' leadoff hitter against lefties in 2018, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran outfielder seems to be locked into a platoon in center field with Steven Duggar. However, when a southpaw takes the hill for the opposition, it seems like the Giants like Jackson atop the batting order. This could get him more at-bats in games that lefties start, as well as more run-scoring opportunities batting ahead of Hunter Pence, Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey.

Jackson will occupy the short side of a center field platoon for the Giants this season, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This assumes of course that the Giants are done making moves, but if the season began today, Olney says prospect Steven Duggar would get the starts against righties. Jackson hit .352/.440/.574 (.419 BABIP) in 141 plate appearances against lefties last season. While his .291/.345/.411 line against righties wasn't terrible, both lines are due for regression, so realistically he doesn't project to be a good option against same-handed pitching. Temper expectations for Jackson's playing time in 2018.