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Giants Walkoff Winners and Losers: Key Player Report Cards After Six Games

The San Francisco Giants have played six games. Here are three players that graded out well and three that didn’t after two series.   
San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn. | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

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The San Francisco Giants return home to begin a seven-game homestand on Thursday with the New York Mets.

The Giants (2-4) probably feel better about things after winning two out of three games against the San Diego Padres. After all, San Francisco lost all three games to the New York Yankees at home, with an offensive performance in an opening series among the worst in both franchise and baseball history.

It was certainly an uneven six games for the Giants, which included two uniquely placed off days that allowed the Giants to work ace Logan Webb into a pair of games on extra rest. From here, the Giants’ rotation will be working on normal rest for the next seven days. That includes Webb.

After six games, here are three players that acquitted themselves well during a 2-4 week and three players that have some work to do.

Winners

RHP Landen Roupp

No starter in the first six games had a better game than Roupp, who two years ago was a reliever. He befuddled the Padres for six innings, giving up two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. That led him to his first win of the season.

Roupp gets his next shot at the mound on Saturday against the Mets. After seeing the final two months of last season derailed by injuries, a quality start to the season is just what the doctor order for a right-hander that could outperform being the No. 5 starter in the rotation.

2B Luis Arraez

Arraez was the only Giants hitter to finish the six-game stretch with a batting average of .300 or better. He slashed .304/.320/.348, which include seven hits, a double, an RBI and a walk. He only struck out twice. It didn’t have quite the impact the Giants would have liked, but he batted in a mix of the leadoff spot and the high middle of the order and produced. Now he and the Giants just need more baserunning traffic.

Plus, he’s turning into a solid defender at second base, something that was in question when the season began.  

RHP Keaton Winn

Winn was one of those relievers that was in question of making the opening day roster until the last moment. The Giants made the right decision putting him on the 26-man roster. In three games he’s thrown three scoreless innings, as he’s struck out six and walked one. In one of those games, he recorded a hold to set up a victory. He’s been efficient, too. He’s thrown just 41 pitches. He’s been one of the pleasant surprises in a bullpen that had plenty of questions going into the season.

Losers

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jose Butto looks to the sky after he walks off the field.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Jose Butto. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

RHP José Buttó

Buttó is going to have his throwing arm examined in San Francisco after he left Wednesday’s game with right arm tightness. But that’s not the only issue. One of the pitchers the Giants got in return from the New York Mets for Tyler Rogers pitched in three games and had a 22.50 ERA as San Francisco returned home. He allowed six hits, five earned runs and four walks along with five strikeouts in two innings. What happens next depends on his arm.

RHP Ryan Walker

San Francisco needs Ryan Walker to work as the closer. He has a save, but it was an adventure. He allowed a hit, two earned runs and a walk in one inning to close out Monday’s win. It left him with a 7.71 ERA in three games, with three strikeouts and two walks in 2.1 innings. He also allowed two hits.

The Giants are thin on backups when it comes to high leverage. One adventurous save doesn’t make an issue. But it puts the Giants on notice.

C Patrick Bailey

An interesting stat from The Athletic’s Eno Sarris. Bailey’s increase in bat speed is third-best among players in the 75th percentile.

So his work in the offseason paid off in that area. But it hasn’t translated to production yet.

Bailey played in all six games and slashed .111/.200/.111 with an RBI and two walks. He also struck out six times. Bailey is an incredible defensive catcher. The two National League Gold Gloves are the proof. San Francisco hopes the bat comes around soon. He’s likely to get at least one day off during the Mets series.

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Matthew Postins
MATT POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers Major League Baseball for OnSI. He also covers the Big 12 Conference for Heartland College Sports.

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