Giants: Mark Melancon placed on 10-day DL

The Giants season is not going the way they thought it would. Things continue to go wrong as closer Mark Melancon lands on the 10-day DL.

The San Francisco Giants have been on a downward spiral this season. The offense isn’t producing enough runs and the team lost their star pitcher to a dirt bike accident. Now, with the team, 23.5 games back in the division, the Giants just lost their closer Mark Melancon to a pronator issue.

Melancon missed time in the beginning of May with the same issue. After a bad first appearance, he settled down and posted a 2.53 ERA before the first injury. Since the return, things haven’t been the same.

In 10 innings, Melancon has a 6.30 ERA, 9:2 K:BB ratio and five saves in seven chances. The saves are more on the offense and starting pitchers not having a lead heading into the ninth inning. His last three games have been good but before that, Melancon allowed four runs in just 0.1 innings after nine days rest.

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While the ratios haven’t been good, Melancon’s pitch control looks good. He has an 8.3 K.9 and 1/3 BB/9, both in line with his career averages.

However, when opposing batters are making contact, they are driving the ball. He’s already allowed three home runs with a 29.2 fly ball and 50.8 ground ball rates, both the worst in at least five seasons.

The Giants will have *gulp* Sam Dyson fill in as the closer. Dyson was removed from the Texas Rangers closer job early in the season, and eventually cut from the team. In 16.2 innings, he posted a 10.80 ERA and 2.58 WHIP.

Dyson has been better with the Giants, but that’s not saying much. He has a 4.91 ERA, 1.364 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 7.1 innings. Again, not the best numbers but anything was an improvement from his time with the Rangers.

MLB Trade Rumors writer Jeff Todd doesn’t feel confident in the injury and Melancon’s ability to recover and pitch effectively once healthy.

"The injury, though, functions as a major bit of uncertainty…But the forearm certainly enhances the risk in the hefty remaining value on the (trade) deal, particularly in the case of an older relief pitcher."

Melancon, at 32 years old, is still a top reliever in the league. There are a couple of teams that could use a closer in the home stretch of the season. If Melancon can go to a team with the offensive support, then the Melancon owners may look to sell high. This is the right time to buy low and keep him on the bench until he returns.

Next: Starlin Castro lands on the DL

On the flip side, with very few closers available on the market, and no one is going to add Dyson, you can’t drop Melancon. If he can pitch well when he returns, then two months of his services are better than what you can find on the waiver wire.