Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
In the wake of a gut-wrenching final inning, the Giants’ bullpen is down one pitcher but has more options than it did.
Which, to be fair, is a bar low enough for ants to clear.
The Giants’ one 28-man roster move Saturday came in placing Sam Coonrod on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, after the righty reported soreness after he surrendered the walk-off home run to Trent Grisham on Friday, and called Rico Garcia back up to replace him.
Coonrod’s velocity was slightly down but still in the high 90s, though miles per hour will drop on a fourth day of work in five days. The Giants were out of options, and Garcia, who was a minor league starter, can be a fresh one.
As can Logan Webb. The Giants righty is done (for the regular season at least) with starts, but instead of throwing a normal side session Saturday, he can be an option out of the bullpen as the Giants and Padres face off at Oracle Park. The Giants could clinch a playoff spot today, but if they win both games this weekend they are assured entry to October.
Johnny Cueto is getting the start Saturday while Drew Smyly will close the regular season Sunday — with Kevin Gausman perhaps an option to follow Smyly. Gabe Kapler ran down the available relievers for Saturday’s game and included Tyler Rogers, who did not pitch Friday but had thrown the three days before, and Tony Watson, who has pitched in three out of four days and whom the Giants have been careful with all year.
If the Giants’ season extends past Sunday, Coonrod won’t be available for at least 10 days. The Giants’ bullpen has been short on righties all year, and with the DFA of Jeff Samardzija, they have another 40-man spot, perhaps for Camilo Doval or Tyler Cyr.
Kapler on Samardzija: “I really respect the way he prepared for yesterday’s start. I thought his stuff came out better than I had seen in a really long time. … At one point I thought he was going to be able to carry us deep into the baseball game. I’m proud of what Jeff accomplished here with the Giants. No doubt that he’s going to attempt to continue his career. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him do really well going forward.”
Kapler on Hunter Pence, who announced his retirement Saturday: “He had a tremendous career, did a ton for the community in San Francisco and obviously for the San Francisco Giants. I’m just happy for him and would send congratulations on a fantastic career.”