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SF Giants have no other choice than to stick with inconsistent closer

There are no options at this point.
ByNick San Miguel|
Sep 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker (74) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Sep 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker (74) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The SF Giants only have nine games left this season and their pitching staff is running on fumes. While there has been fan outcry about Ryan Walker recently, the Giants have no choice but to stick with him as their closer.

Walker began 2025 as the team's closer after his stellar 2024 season that saw him blossom into one of the most elite closers in the game. Unfortunately, Walker just has not been anywhere near as consistent as he was last season which is why he lost the closer role to Camilo Doval early this season.

SF Giants have no choice but to stick with Ryan Walker as closer

Things have changed a bit with the bullpen throughout this season. In the first half the Giants arguably had the best bullpen in baseball, but after they traded away Tyler Rogers and Doval and lost Erik Miller and Randy Rodríguez to injury, their bullpen is barely surviving.

Walker has been thrust back into the role of closer which is not entirely because he is their only option, although he is. He was pitching better before Rodríguez went down with an injury and made sense as a logical replacement given his experience as a closer.

However, as a closer you are judged based on your most recent performance and many fans were miffed when Walker blew a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week shortly after blowing a save.

With every game counting for so much at this point in the season, a blown save is going to trigger even more forceful reactions from the fanbase. Any reliever who coughs it up is going to seem like the goat even if they are far from the only reason a team loses.

Despite the struggles, Walker's numbers on the year are still very respectable. In 64 appearances he has a 3.86 ERA and has only allowed three home runs in 58 and 1/3 innings. He has converted 15 of 21 save opportunities. That is not awful even if he is not the ideal closer at this point in the season.

Yet, the Giants do not have any other options. Joel Peguero has looked really good but it would be too risky to use him as a closer with so little MLB experience. José Buttó could save a game in a pinch but those are probably the only two realistic options the Giants have at this point.

The Giants are going to have to address the bullpen in the offseason, but for now they are stuck with Walker which may upset some fans but that is simply the reality.

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