Keaton

Winn

This is a big failure for Winn, who was trying for his second save of the year and instead saw his ERA jump from 2.40 to 3.23. Give the advantage back to Caleb Kilian in the San Francisco pen.

Winn, who was given a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, cost himself a win by surrendering a game-tying homer to Pete Crow-Amstrong. The Giants previously used Caleb Kilian in the bottom of the sixth today, and he got one out there and then two more in the seventh. Winn probably didn’t hurt his stock much by giving up a homer to a red-hot hitter. It was just the second he’s allowed in 29 innings this season, and his ERA stands at 2.48. He has just one save to date, but he is a candidate for more, even if he’s possibility a little behind Kilian.

Winn becomes the sixth Giants pitcher to earn a save this season, but nobody has collected more than three. Caleb Kilian is one of those relievers with three, but he would’ve been pitching for the third time in four days on Wednesday. Winn’s metrics are strong enough that he could be considered the best arm in this bullpen, but manager Tony Vitello has mixed and matched all year long.

Winn might have been left in to go for the two-inning save if the Giants didn’t score three runs in the top of the ninth, taking their lead from three runs to six. JT Brubaker went on to finish from there. Winn also threw a quick seven-pitch inning on Sunday, so the Giants will probably want to avoid him on Tuesday. Caleb Kilian should be the favorite for the save then.

He had to deal with a Luis Arraez error to start the inning, but he induced a double-play ball after the first walk and then got a flyout to end the inning. Keaton Winn again entered early today, getting three outs between the sixth and seventh. Joel Peguero might have closed if the Giants had taken a lead. He pitched a scoreless ninth and then was charged with two runs, including the automatic runner, while getting one out in the 10th. With Ryan Walker officially out of the picture, Kilian is probably the most rosterable reliever in the Giants pen right now. However, Erik Miller should also enter that mix when he comes off the IL.

Walker allowed three hits and walked one after coming on during the fifth inning. Those who picked up Caleb Killian or Keaton Winn still aren’t assured much of anything, but that Walker was used so early and fared poorly tonight bodes well for the Giants’ alternatives in the ninth.

It’s definitely encouraging how Kilian was used tonight, even if it wasn’t quite a save situation. However, his performance wasn’t great, and fellow closing candidate Keaton Winn turned in a strong seventh for his eighth hold. Ryan Walker did not appear, as it was Matt Gage who had the eighth. Kilian now possesses a 1.59 ERA, while Winn is at 2.76. Kilian will almost certainly be unavailable Saturday after throwing 35 pitches tonight, so maybe Winn or Walker will get a save chance.

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer off him. It’s the fourth straight appearance in which Walker has been scored upon, and his hold on the closer’s role in San Francisco is probably completely gone at this point. That’s good news for Caleb Kilian and Keaton Winn, but with the situation still unsettled and Erik Miller rejoining the mix pretty soon, it’s a tough situation to speculate on in shallow leagues. Kilian might be the best bet. Winn, for what it’s worth, retired two of the three batters he faced after coming into a tie game in the seventh today and was dinged with a run after leaving.

Walker’s last appearance, in which he pitched the sixth inning, raised some questions surrounding his role. He got the call once again in a high-leverage spot, with two runners on and two outs in the seventh with a four-run lead. Walker recorded the final out in the frame, then stranded two runners in a scoreless eighth. The Giants would tack on two more runs in the top of the ninth before Keaton Winn entered to close it out in a non-save situation. It appears this may be more of a committee situation than initially anticipated, with Winn possibly in the mix for saves.

Winn heads back to the minors after posting a pedestrian 4.50 ERA across 10 innings over seven appearances for the Giants.