SF Giants place Blake Snell on the paternity list, recall rookie reliever to bolster bullpen

The SF Giants activated Blake Snell from the injured list on Wednesday and placed him on the paternity list the very next day. Nick Avila was impacted on both sides of that move, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants place Blake Snell on the paternity list, recall rookie reliever to bolster bullpen

First off, we would like to congratulate the Snell family for their new addition. This is a very exciting time for them and we hope that everything goes smoothly.

Snell had been on the shelf with an abductor strain since the end of April. He made a pair of rehab starts and looked great. That normally would not be noteworthy, but it bears mentioning that the two-time Cy Young winner did not have a typical spring training. He was signed so late in the season that he built up arm strength through bullpens and simulated games. Facing live hitters in game situations is still the best feedback loop.

The left-handed pitcher has gotten off to a rough start with the Giants. He has allowed 19 earned runs with 17 strikeouts against nine walks in 15 frames. This includes a start against the Pittsburgh Pirates where he had flashes of regaining his elite stuff.

Overall, he allowed four earned runs on four hits, four walks, and five strikeouts in 3.1 frames against the Pirates. However, Sean Hjelle inherited three of those runners and allowed all three to score on a grand slam from Bryan Reynolds. Those runs still count against Snell's ledger.

It is still early for the nine-year veteran and he is one year removed from winning his second Cy Young Award. The duration of the paternity list is three days, so Snell should be back before his next start.

On the other side of the transaction, Nick Avila was recalled. He was optioned to Double-A on Wednesday to make room for Snell, knowing that he would return after Snell's start.

The rookie reliever made his major league debut earlier this season and he has tallied a 9.31 ERA in 9.2 innings with 10 strikeouts against two walks. This comes with a 3.03 FIP, so he might be the victim of some bad luck. For the time being, Avila will serve as a depth option in the bullpen until Snell returns.