SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants began the regular season in late March with a rookie manager, new roster pieces in place and at least some internal belief that they could compete for a playoff spot in the National League.

Five months later, those playoff hopes have long been extinguished, and only a small fraction of the 26 players who wore the Giants’ cream-colored uniforms on opening day are both healthy and still in the organization.

As a result, the Giants started a lineup on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds that was barely recognizable from the one they fielded on March 25 at home against the New York Yankees, or even the one they had the day before against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

That didn’t mean it couldn’t be effective. Jumping on Reds starter Chase Burns, the Giants scored two runs in the first and three more in the second, courtesy of a three-run bomb from Rafael Devers to the deepest part of Oracle Park, in a 5-0 win to open a seven-game homestand.

The Giants (53-78) had Jung Hoo Lee as their designated hitter and rookie Turner Hill batting cleanup. Nate Furman, Shay Whitcomb and Grant McCray, all promoted to the big leagues from Triple-A Sacramento earlier Monday, started the game at second base, third base and right field, respectively, and hit sixth, seventh and eighth in the order.

With the patchwork lineup, the Giants had 10 hits and went an impressive 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position to help snap a four-game losing streak.

“I think all of us would say that we have a great opportunity in front of us,” said Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert, who had two doubles and scored two runs Monday. “Most of us are not proven, including myself, and to be able to put this uniform on any given day is an honor. Grab that opportunity and try to run with it.

“It’s cool. A lot of young guys stepping in and trying to take advantage of opportunities.”

The Giants needed to get creative after shortstop Willy Adames, outfielder Victor Bericoto and right-hander JT Brubaker were all added to the injured list. All three were banged up in San Francisco’s 5-4 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.

It is unclear when Bericoto and Brubaker might be able to return, but Adames will be out for more than 10 days, although manager Tony Vitello is optimistic Adames can return before the end of the regular season in late September.

In the meantime, some players with less big-league experience will continue to get opportunities.

“What they’re trying to do is put themselves in a position where they can be big leaguers for longer than this period of time,” Vitello said. “So even if that’s us helping guys improve, it’s way easier to enjoy your experience when you’re winning.

“It’s been a good environment, and we need to get guys better. And if we are getting them better, then some of these swing games or tighter games will go in our favor. … Just improvement is key, and what that looks like is some guys getting a little better in certain areas, especially handling late-game situations, and then confidence in general. We’ve lacked confidence this year. No matter who you look to, there’s been times where, as a group, we’ve lacked confidence either just in certain situations, certain days, and I think that needs to improve too over the next 30 games or so.”

An already decimated Giants lineup might be dealing with another injury.

Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt exited Monday’s game with two outs in the third inning with what the team described as left arm pain. He will have an MRI done on Tuesday.

Whisenhunt had just thrown his 47th pitch, a ball outside to Reds center fielder Dane Myers, when he winced in discomfort and immediately held his left arm straight as he walked back to the mound. Whisenhurn later said he actually felt some pain on his previous pitch, a changeup to Reds first baseman Sal Stewart that resulted in a fly ball.

Soon after trainer Dave Groeschner visited the mound, Whisenhunt left the game and returned to the Giants’ clubhouse.

Up until that point, Whisenhunt had thrown 27 of his 46 pitches for strikes, with a four-seam fastball touching 95 mph and a sinker in the 93-94 mph range.

“I felt great,” Whisenhunt said about his outing. “It’s honestly probably the best I’ve felt all year. Mechanical, pitch shapes, velo, everything. Just felt really good today until the last two pitches.”

Whisenhunt was replaced by right-hander Jason Foley, who struck out Myers on four pitches to end the third inning. Foley also pitched a scoreless fourth inning. Four other pitchers, including call-up Ryan Walker, combined to throw five shutout innings.

Whisenhunt was looking for some positivity as he made his eighth start of the season and sixth straight since his most recent recall on July 26. Since then, he’s allowed 22 runs (21 earned) on 30 hits in 21.1 innings for an 8.86 ERA.

Whisenhunt, though, did have a terrific outing on Aug. 11, allowing just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings as the Giants beat the Houston Astros 4-1.

“I think all of the work we’ve been putting in lately has probably been the biggest contributor,” Whisenhunt said. “Working on mechanical stuff, pitch shapes, just kind of everything altogether, but just not overthinking it. Honestly, just kind of letting it happen.

“Obviously not an ideal situation, but just see what happens from here.”

Other Giants pitchers recently added to the IL include Matt Gage (left elbow strain), Trevor McDonald (right elbow strain), and Keaton Winn (right elbow neuritis).

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