Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
What happens when the Giants bullpen loses its ostensible closer?
And its next two best options are unavailable?
The Giants’ bullpen fiasco has just about peaked (right?), after Trevor Gott surrendered a two-run, walk-off shot to Tommy La Stella on Monday, his third blown lead in the ninth inning in four games and Gabe Kapler admitting they can no longer turn to him in the late innings.
The next two options are Tony Watson — their best reliever all season and the most experienced arm — and Tyler Rogers, who has been up and down but is often called upon to face the opponents’ best; he got Mike Trout to fly out on Monday.
Kapler will try to stay away from Watson and Rogers, who have both pitched three out of four days (all Giants losses). If the Giants open up a lead during Tuesday’s matinee, whom would Kapler trust?
“[Shaun] Anderson should be considered there,” Kapler said over Zoom from Angel Stadium of Anaheim. “I think Jarlin Garcia could be considered there. [Sam] Selman should be considered there.”
The Giants’ bullpen will be needed, especially with Trevor Cahill making his second start of the year, his first lasting 55 pitches. If the Giants grab a lead, it would be a first peek into a very different hierarchy without Kapler’s top three options.
Anderson, whose stuff has always intrigued out of the pen, has been inconsistent and too prone to the long ball, having surrendered three in 8 1/3 innings this year. But his slider can often be overpowering.
Garcia, who had been a quality option for the Marlins for three seasons, arrived late to camp 2.0 with a medical issue and needed time to build up. The early returns from his major league work have been promising, no earned runs in four innings, but the lefty has walked three.
Selman has risen from being demoted out of major league camp early in Arizona to being a fringe pool inclusion to now perhaps being trusted in the eighth or ninth. Relying upon a fastball and slider, he’s been solid, with 13 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. Yet, he allowed two runs in his most recent appearance, on Sunday, and pitching Tuesday would be his third appearance in four games.
With Dereck Rodriguez on the taxi squad, the Giants do not have a long option. They will hope Cahill is effective and efficient, and they will hope those who follow him will be better than Gott.
Johnny Cueto will be Wednesday’s starter as the Angels series shifts to Oracle Park, followed by Kevin Gausman.
The next home run for Evan Longoria will be his 300th. For Brandon Crawford, it will be his 100th.
