SF Giants place Matt Gage on the injured list, recall hard-throwing reliever

Before Wednesday's game, the SF Giants made a roster move. Lefty reliever Matt Gage was placed on the injured list, and Dylan Smith was recalled to Triple-A, per the team's transaction log.

Gage is dealing with a bout of knee inflammation. The move was retroactive to June 2, so the earliest that he can return is June 17.

The transaction will leave the Giants oddly light on left-handed relievers. For the past few weeks, they have carried four southpaw pitchers in the bullpen. However, they cut ties with Ryan Borucki over the weekend, and now Gage is on the injured list.

That leaves Erik Miller and Sam Hentges as the only relievers from the left side of the bullpen. Miller has often been used as a setup man this season, whereas Tony Vitello is still trying to find a role for Hentges. Hentges had missed nearly two full seasons due to shoulder and knee injuries, but he returned to the mound in May. Since then, he has pitched to a 2.25 ERA with nine strikeouts and 10 walks in eight frames.

Dylan Smith will get a chance to show what he can do for the SF Giants

On the other hand, Gage got off to a strong start, but has struggled lately. Overall, he has a solid 2.63 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 13 walks in 24 innings, but this comes with a 4.76 FIP. Plus, he has allowed nine of 24 inherited runners to score.

Gage's best role is likely as a situational lefty, and he continues to do well in those matchups. Left-handed hitters have just a .487 OPS in 41 plate appearances against him this season. However, Tony Vitello has tried to stretch him out into more of a one-inning role, but that just may not fit his skill set.

Dylan Smith will take Gage's place in the bullpen. After being placed on the waivers by the Detroit Tigers, he was traded to the Giants in exchange for cash considerations. Smith made one appearance for the club earlier this year.

In five minor league seasons, he has posted a healthy 3.93 ERA, along with a 9.9 K/9 rate. On the mound, he features a mid-90's four-seamer with a mid 80's sweeper. Both pitches have the potential to be quality offerings, with the sweeper recording a 45.3 percent whiff rate in Triple-A this season.

The bullpen should be an open audition at this stage in the season. Smith has good stuff, and if he can command it better, it could open up some innings for him down the road.

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