Hunter Strickland named Giants’ temporary closer

LOS ANGELES — In the same way that Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija’s injuries threw a wrench in the rotation, Mark Melancon’s right elbow flexor strain forced the San Francisco Giants to rearrange their bullpen. Consequently, Bruce Bochy said on Thursday afternoon that Hunter Strickland will assume the role as the team’s closer until Melancon returns from the disabled list.

Bochy will go to Strickland for the ninth inning. More on bullpen below. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/S9TfLS6BsH

— Keaton A. Moore (@KeatonAMoore) March 29, 2018

“Hunter Strickland will be the closer today and will be our closer until we get Mark back,” Bochy said. “With that said, he needs some help. Get some guys who can help in there, but we’ll try to keep these roles as defined as we can. So, he’ll be the closer.

“Now, we could use him in the eighth to help get an out there and the ninth,” Bochy added.

Strickland pitched 7.1 scoreless innings this spring, giving up only one hit and two walks while striking out eight over eight appearances. Bochy acknowledged that Strickland’s strong spring played a role in his decision.

“That’s part of it, the way he was throwing the ball,” Bochy said. “I think he threw the ball as well as anybody, so that’s why he’s getting that role.”

That leaves Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, Corey Gearrin, Roberto Gomez, Pierce Johnson, Reyes Moronta, and Josh Osich to pitch until the ninth inning.

“Watson and Gearrin, seventh and eighth,” Bochy said. “We’ll have Osich help out and Dyson, so depending on who’s coming up, those kind of things.”

Bochy went on to say that, “Peirce Johnson and Roberto Gomez are more lone guys to give us two-plus innings, and Moronta is a guy who can help clean up an inning or give us an inning of work.”