SF Giants: Relievers swapped to keep bullpen fresh

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 27: Camilo Doval #75 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on April 27, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Before Tuesday’s game, the SF Giants made a roster move by swapping out John Brebbia with Camilo Doval. Brebbia was recalled on Sunday to give them an extra arm after a couple of long games in Milwaukee but he was not needed.

SF Giants: Relievers swapped to keep bullpen fresh

Upon returning from Tommy John surgery, Brebbia’s San Francisco tenure got off to a rocky start, allowing 11 earned runs on 21 hits in 15 innings. However, he has recorded 16 strikeouts against only two walks, so he has commanded the strike zone in a similar way to his three-year run with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Giants like his consistent delivery and repertoire, meaning that they will be patient with the right-handed hurler. There are going to be some bumps along the way as his arm strength is rebuilt to his pre-surgery form.

He will return to the Sacramento River Cats where he has yielded four runs in eight innings in a hitter-friendly Triple-A West Division.

Camilo Doval, who was recalled, will replace Brebbia on the major league roster. Before the season began, the Giants had hoped that the hard-throwing righty would play a key role in the 2021 bullpen. Though, Doval struggled in his first taste of big league action as he registered a 7.59 ERA, including four home runs, in 10.2 innings earlier in the year.

He was demoted at the end of May and some struggles were to be expected given that he had not pitched above High-A before this season. Since being sent down to Triple-A, the 24-year-old has posted a 5.33 ERA with 34 strikeouts against 22 walks in 25.1 innings. The strikeout numbers are great, but not the number of free passes he has yielded.

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Doval is not expected to remain with the major league club for long as the Giants are preparing for the return of third baseman Evan Longoria. Longoria sustained a shoulder injury at the beginning of June and he had recently begun a rehab assignment. The veteran third baseman is with the Giants in Arizona, so it seems possible that he could be activated by the end of the two-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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