Ryan Walker's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.