San Francisco Giants: 3 biggest takeaways vs. Colorado Rockies

By Joel Reuter

Apr 15, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Gerardo Parra #8, Kevin Pillar #1 and Steven Duggar #6 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates defeating the Colorado Rockies 5-2 during a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on April 13, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 03: Pitcher Tony Watson #56 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Giants 5-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

There were a number of questions surrounding the Giants roster heading into the 2019 season.

The bullpen was not one of them.

A relief corps anchored by Will Smith, Tony Watson and Reyes Moronta was always expected to be a strong point for the team, and the bullpen has thus far exceeded modest expectations thanks to strong contributions from that group, as well as middle relievers like Trevor Gott and Nick Vincent.

Entering play on Monday, the Giants lead all of baseball with a 1.77 ERA from the relief corps, with also boasts a 0.97 WHIP and a 58-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 61 innings of work.

In the 18-inning marathon game on Friday, eight different relievers combined to throw 13 scoreless innings in relief of starter Drew Pomeranz. That included multi-inning outings from Mark Melancon, Gott, Vincent and Rule 5 rookie Travis Bergen, who struck out five in two perfect innings to earn the win.

The rotation has exceeded expectations as well to this point, and the team will welcome that strong play from the starting staff as long as it lasts.

However, even with some regression from the starters, the bullpen should be something the team can lean on all season.