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Giants place Matt Gage on IL with elbow strain after 51-pitch relief appearance
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- Giants place Matt Gage on IL with elbow strain after 51-pitch relief appearance
Giants place Matt Gage on IL with elbow strain after 51-pitch relief appearance originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Giants took a beating Friday in Denver, and their bullpen paid the price Saturday.
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Reliever Matt Gage was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain after throwing a career-high 51 pitches in 1 1/3 innings as the Giants lost 15-3 to the Rockies at Coors Field.
Right-handed pitcher Spencer Bivens was recalled to take Gage's roster spot.
Gage spoke to reporters in the Giants' clubhouse at Coors Field and appeared to indicate that Tommy John surgery on his left elbow is likely.
Gage, who hadn't pitched since June 26, allowed four hits, six earned runs and walked two batters in his 34th appearance of the season.
Over his previous three relief appearances, Gage had thrown a total of 50 pitches, putting into context how heavy a workload he had on Friday.
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First-year Giants manager Tony Vitello spoke to reporters before Saturday's game and was asked about Gage, who missed time in early June with a knee injury, possibly pitching through recent elbow discomfort.
"For me, for whatever reason, and I don't think it was the knee bothering him, that's based off conversations with him, but since coming from the knee [injury], it just hadn't been the same deal," Vitello told reporters. "Maybe even a couple of the outings, the knee was bothering him. If you go back in time prior to those two, he had been outstanding for us. And probably for whatever reason, arm discomfort, it hadn't clicked for him since he came back from the knee deal."
Gage's IL stint comes nearly three weeks after reliever Keaton Winn landed on the injured list following appearances on three consecutive days.
Reporters pressed Vitello on pitchers communicating with him about their availability and possible discomfort.
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"One-hundred percent, but like I said, you brought up the Keaton deal and Keaton had come in the office, this being one stadium and a couple other instances, where he let us know it wouldn't be a good day for him to be available," Vitello said. "But communication is always vital. There's a difference between being tough and being stubborn a little bit. For whatever reason, Gager had verbalized a little bit that he hadn't been in the best spot the last couple of weeks. And I don't think things improve for him at all."
Gage told reporters he wanted to leave everything on the field for the Giants, and Vitello addressed that mentality.
"He kind of said the same thing with the knee and you don't want to put yourself at risk of doing something else," Vitello said. "Again, as a pitcher, you got an ankle or knee or something like that, you might start compensating and throwing in a little bit of a different way. It is a fine line. We've talked about it with guys that want to push it and be out there all the time. I don't know that it's necessarily swallowing your pride but I think being a little bit strategic or just smart about looking out for yourself just as you're looking out for the team.
"And at the end of the day, when guys are done playing, and you know it, the fans know it, the coaches, the players know who the team guys are and the guys who truly are combatants on the field and those are two guys that fit in that category and many others. But yeah, I think there's a fine line."
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In 27 1/3 innings this season, Gage has a 5.60 ERA and 22 strikeouts. His previous season high in pitches was 37, and that is the only other time he has surpassed 30 pitches this year.
Before this season, Gage's career high was 41 pitches in two innings against the Atlanta Braves last July 21.
The Giants look to bounce back against the Rockies on Saturday night, with Robbie Ray (3.39 ERA) taking on Sean Sullivan (8.64 ERA).
