SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants closer Randy Rodríguez was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with right elbow soreness. An exact time frame for his return is unclear.
Giants manager Bob Melvin revealed that this has been a lingering issue for Rodríguez throughout the season. The Giants tried to manage his workload with time off and rarely using him on back-to-back days. Despite those efforts Rodríguez was feeling the soreness more than usual this past weekend in Milwaukee.
“Our doctors will look at him tonight; then maybe we’ll have an idea of what the timetable is,” Melvin said before the Giants' series opener vs. the Cubs on Tuesday night. “Obviously, it’s an IL, and I’m guessing there might be a second opinion or two at some point in time after the doctors see him. But I’m not sure what we’re looking at yet.”
Right-hander Keaton Winn was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
Rodríguez has pitched back-to-back days only six times this season, with the most recent being July 26-27 vs the Mets. After giving up two earned runs on two hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings on the second day, Rodríguez got four days of rest before his next appearance.
In his six games on the back end of pitching consecutive days Rodríguez has a 3.18 ERA with eight strikeouts and 1.235 WHIP over 5 2/3 innings. His numbers improve considerably with rest, pitching to a 0.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 0.529 WHIP over 17 innings pitched with one day of rest. With two days’ rest, he has a 1.42 ERA, 16 strikeouts and 0.789 WHIP in 12 2/ 3 innings.
“Just the way he’s felt after some games, we got to be careful with it,” Melvin said. “And then, it came to a head.”