Key area of SF Giants roster could be strength in 2025 after promising start

The SF Giants bullpen has sat in the middle of the pack in terms of ERA in recent seasons. The pendulum has shifted in their favor, as the bullpen is second in baseball with a 1.75 ERA so far this season.

Key area of SF Giants roster could be strength in 2025 after promising start

It bears mentioning that ERA is now the only indicator of value for a bullpen. While the Giants' bullpen was 14th in baseball with a 3.94 ERA from 2023 - 2024, they were fourth with a 3.77 FIP. This suggests that they pitched better than their ERA would indicate, but run prevention is still paramount for a bullpen.

The first notable difference from this year's bullpen compared to the past two seasons is usage. The Giants are using relievers in more traditional roles this season, rather than relying on openers and bullpen games. Those strategies were typically deployed out of need.

However, the Giants' rotation has much more depth this season, so there is a good chance that they will not need to rely on bullpen games. There may be a couple of exceptions to this, as emergencies tend to pop up through a long season.

This should also limit the Giants from overexposing the bullpen. Their bullpen threw more innings than any other team in baseball over the past two seasons. This also includes starters who came in after openers, so that stat is somewhat misleading.

The other thing that stands out is this year's bullpen has length. I do not see them as having unusually strong depth because they just do not have many options beyond the current relievers on the major league roster. The pitching side of the 40-man roster leans much more on starting pitchers.

The Giants have a solid closer in Ryan Walker. Walker has converted 13 straight saves since being tabbed as the team's in August of last season. Typically, when a team has a reliable closer, everything else falls into place. That is not always the case, but more of a rule of thumb.

They have a blueprint for how to get the ball to Walker in the ninth inning. Tyler Rogers is a big part of that due to both his effectiveness and durability. Erik Miller is the primary option against left-handed hitters. This is one area that needs to be addressed at some point this season.

Randy Rodríguez has quickly moved up the bullpen depth chart and should supplant Camilo Doval as one of the top leverage options. The Giants still believe in Doval, but he is coming off several bad outings after a down year in 2024.

Lou Trivino is healthy for the first time in years and has a good track record as a middle reliever. Bob Melvin trusts him quite a bit, so he will get a long look in leverage spots this season.

Hayden Birdsong and Spencer Bivens round out the bullpen. The Giants will need rotation help at some point, so Birdsong should slot right into that place when the need arises. Bivens has struggled out the gates, but the Giants like his strike-throwing ability.

The 30-year-old pitcher does not have overpowering stuff, but there is still a multi-inning role in non-leverage spots that needs to be covered. Those are not necessarily the most exciting innings, but there will be plenty of those innings throughout the year.

The Giants have a good core of relievers, including Walker, Rogers, Miller, and Rodríguez. Birdsong could be a weapon in the bullpen, but this should only be a short-term role. They have the makings of a good bullpen, and this unit could even be a strength this season. They are off to a promising start.