San Francisco Giants closer Ryan Walker continued his excellent season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks, picking up his 10th save. Walker came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three and turned in a 1-2-3 performance with no strikeouts. The 28-year-old has had an outstanding season, compiling a 9-4 record while converting 10 of 14 save opportunities with 21 holds to go with a 1.94 ERA, an 11.28 K/9 rate, and a 1.94 BB/9 rate in 79 innings of work. He has served as a reliable fantasy closer since taking over the closer's role from Camilo Doval, who pitched the eighth inning in this game. Fantasy managers will need to see how spring plays out prior to the 2025 season, but Walker could be a fantasy target in all leagues if named the team's closer and will be a target at least in saves-plus-holds leagues.
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker earned his first save of the season on Saturday afternoon. Walker allowed two baserunners, one via walk and the other via a single. He tallied two punchouts and did not surrender a run. Walker was recently named San Francisco's closer as Camilo Doval was optioned to Triple-A. Walker operated as a high-leverage option and held a stellar 2.20 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 14:73 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, Walker sports an excellent 30.5% K rate, 31.2% hard-hit rate, and a 29.9% whiff rate. Walker should be added in all formats, as he should be in line to see all save opportunities in the Bay going forward while also providing elite ratios.
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that right-handed reliever Ryan Walker will serve as the team's closer after the club decided to option former closer Camilo Doval to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. The Giants were ready to make a change at the back end of their bullpen after Doval blew his fifth save of the season on Thursday night against the Washington Nationals. Walker is deserving of the closer's gig this year after going 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 71 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 60 1/3 innings pitched over a league-high 59 appearances (one start). Melvin mentioned Jordan Hicks, who was recently moved to the bullpen after beginning the year as a starter, as another possibility for saves, but Walker is going to get the first crack to replace Doval and should be added immediately by fantasy managers in need of saves.
San Francisco Giants rookie right-hander Ryan Walker will serve as the team's opener for their game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. This will be the 12th "start" for Walker as an opener this year, but he's unlikely to go more than three innings, so fantasy managers looking for a streamer should avoid him in a tough matchup on the road. Either left-hander Sean Manaea or right-hander Jakob Junis will work as the bulk reliever in this one. The 27-year-old Walker has gone 4-2 this year with a strong 2.16 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, one save, 15 walks and 61 strikeouts in 50 innings over 38 appearances (11 starts). In 17 2/3 frames as a opener this year, Walker has allowed six runs (five earned) while walking 10 and striking out 28.
San Francisco Giants right-hander Ryan Walker will start on Wednesday, facing Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Over 16.1 innings, the 27-year-old owns a 1.65 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 15 punchouts. Walker has not pitched more than three innings in any outing this season, so fantasy managers should expect a short start with the bullpen doing most of the work. The Giants rotation is short-handed right now with Alex Cobb (oblique) and Ross Stripling (back) on the injured list, so expect to see these bullpen days on a more regular basis.
Ryan Walker
• RP
•
Giants
