Sam Dyson Finding his Groove with the San Francisco Giants

After a horrific start to the 2017 season for Sam Dyson, he’s starting to find his groove again with the San Francisco Giants.

In 2016 Sam Dyson was a lights out closer for the Texas Rangers. He closed 38 games in 43 chances with a 2.43 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 70.1 innings with a 1.22 WHIP.

However, I don’t think anyone in baseball had as bad a start to 2017 as Sam Dyson. In his first two outings of the year he gave up 8 runs. He blew his first three save opportunities.

In the month of April he gave up 14 earned runs on 16 hits and 6 walks in just 7.1 innings pitched with just 2 strikeouts. He was 0-3 with 3 blown saves in April. It doesn’t get much worse than that for a relief pitcher.

After losing his job as the team’s closer, he seemed to be back on track in May. He allowed just 1 run in his first 7 innings pitched in May. But he had still allowed nine base runners in those 7 innings with just 3 strikeouts.

On May 24 he absolutely imploded giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks without recording an out. That would be his fourth blown save of the season.

A week later he gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, including 2 home runs, to pick up his sixth loss of the season. That was enough for the Texas Rangers as they waived him.

The San Francisco Giants, desperate for bullpen help, took a flier on Dyson and snatched him up.

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Things started out a little shaky as he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and a walk without recording an out in his first game with the San Francisco Giants.

He settled down after that and had four scoreless outings before giving up 2 runs and earning a loss against the New York Mets on June 24.

He finished June with a 4.91 ERA in 7.1 innings with 10 strikeouts. When Mark Melancon went on the DL, the San Francisco Giants looked to Dyson to replace him as the team’s closer.

He’s 3-for-3 in save opportunities since taking over that role. In July he’s pitched three scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit with 2 strikeouts.

In his last 5.2 innings pitched he hasn’t allowed a run. During that stretch he’s given up 3 hits and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts.

Could Dyson be Traded? 

The timing couldn’t be better for Dyson and the San Francisco Giants. As the July trade deadline approaches, contenders will be starving for relief pitching.

If Dyson continues to prove that he’s back to his former self that closed 38 games in 2016, he’ll be a valuable commodity at the trade deadline.

Of course, the Giants have control of him for three more years and could decide to keep Dyson. But if they get the right offer I think it would be best to move Dyson.

He could also be a piece in a package deal to bring back a good prospect.

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Dyson will be an interesting player to watch for the San Francisco Giants this month. Hopefully he continues good work and earns the San Francisco Giants a good prospect at the trade deadline.