SF Giants fans having flashbacks to last year after reliever's rough outings

SF Giants reliever Camilo Doval has had two straight rough outings. After starting the season strong, he blew a save in Sunday's game and then gave up two earned runs on Monday to cost the team the game.

Thankfully, Sunday's blown save did not cost the team as they were able to score a run in the bottom of the 9th to send the fans home happy. However, Monday's performance did cost the team the game as he allowed two baserunners, one via walk and the other via a hit by pitch, who both went on to score and the Giants lost 2-0.

It was really a waste of staff ace Logan Webb's masterful start. Webb went 7 dominant shutout innings, striking out 10 batters while allowing four hits and no walks. Unfortunately, Webb is not a stranger to his offense failing to provide a lot of run support. The Giants just ran into a dominant starter in Hunter Greene who was one out away from a complete game shutout.

SF Giants fans will not love Camilo Doval's recent 2024-like outings

Still, Doval's last two outings are a cause for concern. Doval looked better in spring training as he was throwing more strikes. There was optimism that he could regain his All-Star form. His first few outings to begin the 2025 regular season were characterized by him regularly finding the strike zone and looking like a much more in-control version of Doval compared to last season when he issued 39 walks in 59 innings and lost the closer role to Ryan Walker.

Doval was wild in Sunday's contest but at least had enough control to get through the running after only allowing one run. On Monday he looked completely out of control. Only three of the 11 pitches he threw were for a strike. Were it not for the three-batter minimum rule for relief pitchers, manager Bob Melvin probably would have pulled him even sooner. His stuff was that erratic.

So, what should we make of this? Is it time to send Doval back down to Triple-A like the team did last season? Should they trade him? Probably not. It may be time to put him in lower-leverage situations, though. Maybe he can come in in the 6th and 7th rather than the 8th or 9th for a bit to see if he can throw strikes consistently. We have probably seen the end of Melvin's co-closer experiment for the time being.

MLB seasons are long, though. Doval may not be in favor right now, but if he can regain his form then he could still be an elite late-inning arm for San Francisco this season. That will not change the fact that fans will still hold their breath every time he takes the mound, though.