SF Giants welcome back 2023 All-Star reliever, option Landen Roupp to Triple-A

After a couple of blow ups by the bullpen this week, the SF Giants brought back a familiar face. Camilo Doval was recalled from Triple-A, whereas Landen Roupp was optioned to the Sacramento River Cats, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants welcome back 2023 All-Star reliever, option Landen Roupp to Triple-A

Doval struggled badly for much of the 2024 season before he was optioned to Triple-A at the beginning of the month. While he was not throwing the ball well, it was a mild surprise that he was sent to the minors rather than removed from the closer role.

Perhaps, that did more damage than good for the Giants as the bullpen has struggled badly over the past week. That is not to say Doval would have helped, but he does have plenty of high-leverage experience.

The hard-throwing reliever tallied a 4.70 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 29 walks in 44 frames for the Giant this season. This includes 22 saves in 27 opportunities. While he continues to record a healthy strikeout rate, Doval's control has taken a noticeable step back in 2024.

It is not just the high walk rate, but too many location mistakes in the middle of the zone. This along with his struggles managing the pitch clock, fielding his position, and holding on runners have not helped his case.

In his brief time in Triple-A, Doval yielded two earned runs on seven strikeouts and only one walk in 5.2 innings.

On the other side of the transaction, Roupp returns to Sacramento. The rookie pitcher had been with the club for more than two weeks but went nearly 10 days between appearances before completing one inning of work in Friday's agonizing 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners. On the year, he has posted a 4.70 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 12 walks in 23 innings with San Francisco.

Presumably, Roupp will return to the rotation in Triple-A where he registerd a 3.80 ERA in eight outings with the River Cats. He has an excellent sinker-curveball combination. He has a good feel for his curveball and his sinker gets a lot of downward movement, but he does not control as well as his breaking ball.

The next step for Roupp will be mixing in a third pitch more frequently to stick as a starter. He throws a changeup, which has looked promising, but he rarely uses it.