Former SF Giants closer could be pitching his way back into key bullpen role

SF Giants reliever Ryan Walker was supplanted by Camilo Doval earlier this year to be the team's closer. It has been a tough season for him, but he has thrown well lately, and could be pitching his way back into a key bullpen role.

Former SF Giants closer could be pitching his way back into key bullpen role

It is an open tryout for the 2026 bullpen right now, with most spots open for grabs. Randy Rodríguez might be one of the few pitchers you can pencil into that 2026 bullpen. Of course, Walker should be in that mix, but what role remains to be seen.

The overall numbers for Walker have been more fine than good. He has posted a 3.71 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, and a 3.50 SO/W rate across 51 frames this season. He has allowed three home runs as well, so he has excelled in keeping the ball in the ballpark.

There has been a sharp drop in Walker's chase and whiff rates to 26.0 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively. Last season, he posted a 29.2 percent chase rate and 28.6 percent whiff rate when he was one of the better relievers in baseball. This means that opposing hitters are not chasing out of the zone as often, and not swinging through his pitches as much as they did.

Not surprisingly, there has been a dip in Walker's strikeout rate to 8.6 K/9. Relievers need to be able to tally high strikeout totals. To some degree, Walker can get by with a deceptive, cross-fire delivery. That delivery is likely why hitters are not chasing as much, as it adds a lot of horizontal movement through the zone. Hitters know that the pitch will likely land out of the strike zone.

Another number that stands out with Walker is a 64.0 percent left on base rate. Front offices tend to associate this with luck. The league rate is 72.4 percent, so Walker has allowed more runners who have reached base to score. If that number inches close to the league rate, his ERA should benefit.

There are a few reasons why the Giants likely see Walker's overall numbers as better than what his ERA would suggest. He got off to a slow start, but he has been better lately.

Since the start of July, Walker has recorded a 2.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts and five walks in 18 innings. The strikeout numbers are up during that stretch.

This has coincided with the rest of the bullpen struggling following the trade deadline. The Giants shipped Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval to the New York Mets and New York Yankees, respectively. The trades highlighted just how important Rogers was to the bullpen and that Doval was an effective closer. As good as Randy Rodríguez has been this season, he has struggled as the team's closer. While he will likely remain in that role, if the struggles continue, it could force the Giants to look at other options.

Walker has experience and is throwing the ball well. This is not to say that he will pitch his way back to being the team's closer, but this iteration of the bullpen likely needs him to be effective in a leverage role. His performance lately suggests that he can still be that.

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