© Ron Chenoy | 2021 Sep 8
The Giants will be without their closer, at least for the time being.
Jake McGee hit the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday’s series-opener with Atlanta with a right oblique strain. His stint is retroactive to Sept. 14, so the earliest Sam Francisco’s closer could return is Sept. 24 in Colorado. But it could be longer than that.
“I think we’re looking to try to get him ready before the end of the season,” manager Gabe Kapler told reporters before Friday’s game.
McGee has been a revelation for the Giants. The Colorado Rockies waived him after the 2019 season when he posted a 4.35 ERA. He hadn’t been a regular closer since 2016. With the Giants this year, though, McGee has recorded 31 saves and has blown just five.
McGee (2.72 ERA) most recently pitched on Sept. 12 when he earned a save in a 6-5 win over the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Jay Jackson was recalled from Sacramento in a corresponding move.
Kapler said McGee started feeling pain in his side a couple days ago while warming up in the bullpen. It wasn’t severe discomfort, Kapler said, but it continued to nag him the next day when playing catch. A scan revealed an oblique strain.
“We’re going to take that very seriously and try to get him ready and healthy as soon as he can,” Kapler said.
A combination of Tyler Rogers, Dominic Leone and Tony Watson, in various orders, could handle responsibilities from the seventh inning on in McGee’s stead.
Rogers especially has emerged as a weapon this year. His unorthodox submarine style has produced ground balls at an elite rate and he’s been able to handle both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Among qualified relievers, gis 1.65 ERA ranks sixth in MLB.
Kapler praised the unselfishness and adaptability of his bullpen. Rogers has recently pitched seventh innings, often to face the opposing lineup’s most dangerous hitters. Leone has opened four games while the starting rotation is down Johnny Cueto and Alex Wood.
“I think Dom’s really set the tone in these bullpen games with how he’s been able to go out there and attack the first couple innings or whatever it may be,” Watson recently told KNBR. “That’s not easy. He needs to get a lot of credit for that. Because every player, especially bullpen guys, would probably say they’re routine based and have a routine to fall back on. And his kind of gets thrown all out of whack there to start a game.”
Without McGee, the rest of the bullpen may have their routines disrupted as the Giants cling to a one-game lead in the NL West and 15 games remaining.
- The Giants plan to have Alex Wood start Saturday’s game against the Braves. He hasn’t pitched since hitting the COVID-19 injured list since late August. He had a fever for seven straight days, but said he felt good after throwing a simulated game this week.
- Though everything remains on the table for starter Johnny Cueto, there was an encouraging development Friday — he’s extending his throwing routine out to 90 feet. He first picked up a ball and resumed throwing Wednesday. Kapler said it’s possible Cueto throws a live bullpen session by the end of the month, keeping the door open for a return before the playoffs.
- Alex Dickerson is still feeling some tightness in his hamstring and will remain in Sacramento to get more at-bats. Donovan Solano (COVID-19) , meanwhile, is back with the club and will be available off the bench. Thairo Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Sacremtno with Solano’s reinstatement.
