SF Giants reliever sort of in same company as Mason Miller in key stat to start 2026

Keaton Winn and Mason Miller in the same sentence? Who knew? The SF Giants reliever is fourth among qualified relievers with a 1.23 xERA. Miller is the leader by far with a 0.33 xERA.

SF Giants reliever sort of in same company as Mason Miller in key stat to start 2026

xERA goes a bit into the weeds of analytics, but the expected numbers provide a pretty good basis for evaluating topline stats. This is to say, how strong is a batting average or ERA?

If there is a large variance between ERA and xERA, then it suggests that a pitcher's numbers are the product of good or bad luck. If the numbers are relatively close, it is a good sign that the ERA feels real.

xERA factors in a pitcher's xwOBA and applies an ERA scale to it. xwOBA is a way to measure a hitter's quality of contact. Conversely, it is used for pitchers as a way to measure the quality of contact they allow. This is an attempt to be predictive, whereas other numbers, such as FIP, are descriptive.

Keaton Winn has been fantastic in the early going, and the numbers back it up. He is not quite on the same level as Mason Miller, but he is pretty clearly an important reliever in the Giants' bullpen.

For years, the Giants tried to stretch Winn out as a starter. He had a starter's pitch mix, headlined by a devastating splitter and a pair of fastballs that sat in the mid-90's. He added a slider later on to give his pitch mix more gloveside movement. Plus, he has solid command. On paper, he had the ingredients to become an effective starter, but injuries sidelined him for the past couple of seasons.

More recently, Winn has moved into the bullpen as a way to keep him on the mound, and the results have been promising. He has pitched to a 2.79 ERA with 13 strikeouts and two walks in 9.2 frames this season. The splitter has been about as effective as it can be, as Winn has generated a 53.2 percent whiff rate with it in 2026.

Tony Vitello has not committed to concrete bullpen roles yet. However, Winn has emerged as one of the top options and should be in line for some save chances.

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