Matt

Gage

Nothing has changed in the prognosis for the 33-year-old southpaw, who is currently shelved with a moderate flexor tendon strain, this was done as a procedural move to free up a spot on the Giants’ 40-man roster for the addition of Buddy Kennedy on Sunday. The Giants have yet to provide a clear timeline for Gage’s return.

The plan is for the left-handed reliever to have a PRP injection and be reevaluated in a few weeks. Gage has a 5.70 ERA in 27 1/3 innings for the Giants this season, but has a 3.69 ERA in 78 career MLB innings.

This comes after Gage threw 51 pitches in relief during Friday’s game. He’ll be out for at least two weeks — with elbow injuries usually requiring longer stints than the minimum — and Spencer Bivens getting the call to take his place on the staff.

Gage returns to San Francisco’s bullpen following a minimum stint on the shelf with knee inflammation. The 33-year-old southpaw has been an unexpected revelation this season, compiling a pristine 2.63 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 19/13 K/BB ratio across 24 innings of work.

Gage has emerged as a key cog in San Francisco’s high-leverage mix with an encouraging 2.63 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 19/13 K/BB ratio across 24 innings. The well-traveled 33-year-old southpaw appears to have found a more permanent home with the Giants after making 49 appearances in the big leagues between four different organizations since 2022.

Caleb Kilian entered with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and induced a ground ball double play to get out of the jam. Up by two runs, he returned for the ninth and allowed a run on two hits with two outs. After another runner reached on catcher’s interference, Gage took over to face Ketel Marte, who walked it off with a three-run blast. Between ineffective pitching and unpredictable usage, the Giants’ situation has been a tough one to chase for saves.

Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian combined to turn a five-run lead into a two-run lead in the eighth, setting up the save chance for Gage in the ninth. Gage wound up retiring all three batters he faced for an easy save in a two-run game. Kilian, Miller and Keaton Winn are probably all still ahead of him in line for saves in San Francisco.

Gage, 32, joins the Giants’ bullpen after signing a minor league deal with the Giants at the beginning of July. The southpaw offers middle-inning help and nothing more.

Gage signed a minor league contract with the Giants in the beginning of July and the 32-year-old will add some bullpen depth to the San Francisco relief corps.

Gage elected free agency after he was designated for assignment by the Tigers back on June 26. The reliever had a 1.67 ERA in 32 1/3 innings for Triple-A Toledo this season and has a 1.42 ERA in 22 career MLB appearances. He will now return to the organization that drafted him in 2014 and start off in Triple-A Sacramento.