Melvin makes plea for SF Giants’ ‘fireman’ to get All-Star Game nod
WEST SACRAMENTO – Set-up men do not usually get invited to pitch in MLB’s All-Star Game, as staff aces, household names, and premier closers are traditionally the ones selected to fill out the American and National League rosters for the Midsummer Classic.
But Giants manager Bob Melvin feels that given what he’s done this season, right-handed reliever Randy Rodriguez deserves strong consideration, if not an outright invitation.
Including his work in the Giants’ 7-2 win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Saturday, Rodriguez, dating back to May 1, has now allowed just one earned run in his last 24 1/3 innings.
Rodriguez pitched got the Giants out of a jam on Saturday night. With two on and two out, Rodriguez got Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was voted into the All-Star Game earlier this week, to pop up to shortstop Willy Adames to end the threat.
Going into Saturday, Rodriguez’s 0.72 ERA was the second-lowest among all MLB relievers, trailing only Newark native and Cubs righty Chris Flexen (0.62).
Before Saturday, left-handed batters were hitting .088 (6-for-68) off him, and his 37.9% strikeout rate was the second-highest among NL pitchers (min. 100 batters faced).
Rodriguez has now been charged with runs in just two of his 38 appearances. The last one came on April 29, when he allowed a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts in San Francisco’s 7-4 loss to the Padres.
Melvin feels set-up guys have valuable roles on big-league rosters, too. So why shouldn’t Rodriguez get a nod?
“I don’t know that there’s a better setup man or a guy that’s come in and been a fireman and done what he’s done this year,” Melvin said of the 25-year-old Rodriguez, now in his second big-league season. “What’s his ERA now, (0.71)? And look at his numbers against lefties too, which for a righty, that’s quite the luxury to have.”
Other NL relievers thought to be in the mix for the All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15 are Edwin Diaz (Mets), Robert Suarez (Padres), Trevor Megill (Brewers) and Emilio Pagan (Reds), all closers.
Starters Robbie Ray and Logan Webb and reliever Tyler Rogers also have cases for inclusion once rosters are announced on Sunday. Rafael Devers could get an invitation as a designated hitter.
“We’re not going to get all those guys,” Melvin said, “but I know I’m probably a little biased as well.”
MILLER UPDATE: Melvin didn’t sound overly concerned about left-handed reliever Erik Miller, who was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 3 with a left elbow sprain on Saturday.
“It’s been bothering him a little bit. I certainly hope it’s not something that’s significant, and at this point, we don’t feel like it,” is, Melvin said of Miller. “It wasn’t one of those things where he just felt something go. It was just kind of a progressive thing for the last few days, where he’s felt it a little bit warming up.
“So, hopefully, we caught it at the right time.”
Miller is having a strong season with a 4-1 record and a 1.50 ERA over 30 innings.
Melvin said Miller, a Stanford alum, had an MRI on Saturday and said “it doesn’t look like it’s a big structural problem in there, and I haven’t heard talk of any bad things. We just shut him down for a little bit, and then, you know, hopefully, it heals.”