McGee will enter the year as the Giants' closer, according to manager Gabe Kapler in an interview on KNBR. "Right now, if we were starting on Opening Day, Jake McGee would be our closer," Kapler said on the Tolbert & Copes Show last Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Kapler went on to say that the Giants don't need to identify firm bullpen roles, mentioning Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval as other candidates for saves this season. It sounds like this will be a committee, with McGee leading the way in projected opportunities, although the situation is obviously fluid.

McGee (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Gabe Kapler has been optimistic that McGee would be back in action for the final series of the regular season, and indeed McGee will rejoin the Giants' bullpen Saturday. Camilo Doval has seen ninth-inning work recently, but McGee will likely reclaim at least a partial share of the closer duties.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Friday that there's a "good chance" that McGee (oblique) returns this weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

McGee has been on the injured list since Sept. 17 due to a right oblique strain, but he threw a bullpen session Wednesday. Although the southpaw is unlikely to return ahead of Friday's series opener against the Padres, it appears as though he'll rejoin the major-league bullpen at some point during the final weekend of the regular season.

McGee (oblique) will throw off a mound Wednesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

McGee landed on the IL Sept. 17 with a right oblique strain. The left-hander progressed to playing catch from 90 feet last Friday and now he is on the brink of resuming mound work. The plans for McGee beyond Wednesday aren't entirely clear, but so long as he gets through session without any setbacks, a return to the Giants' bullpen for the final regular-season series against the Padres might not be out of the question. McGee has logged 31 saves (36 opportunities) while posting an impressive 2.72 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 58:10 K:BB across 59.2 innings this season.

McGee (oblique) played catch from 90 feet Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

McGee has been on the injured list for a week, but it's encouraging to see him start a throwing program. He'll have to resume mound work before he has a clear timetable for his return, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him rejoin the Giants late in the regular season or to begin the postseason.

McGee was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain Friday.

EDGE Analysis

It seems likely the oblique injury has been nagging McGee for a few days, as he hasn't pitched since Sunday's game against the Cubs. He'll be eligible to come off the injured list Sept. 24, but given the nature of oblique injuries, he could easily be forced to miss more time. That being said, per Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News, manager Gabe Kapler is hoping to have the southpaw back by the end of the regular season.

McGee clinched the save Sunday against the Cubs after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.

EDGE Analysis

McGee has closed the door on his last two save chances, and he seems to be settling down after allowing earned runs in two straight contests earlier this month. The veteran reliever has gone 31-for-36 in save chances this season and owns a 3.60 ERA across five appearances this month.

McGee pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 7-4 win over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

San Francisco rallied for a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, and McGee had no trouble making it stick as he earned his 30th save of the year. Prior to 2021, he had never recorded more than 19 saves in a season. McGee has been excellent with a 2.76 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 58:10 K:BB through 58.2 innings, although he's faltered a bit more lately by allowing eight runs (seven earned) across his last 11.1 innings.

McGee pitched the ninth inning of Sunday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits with one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

After Austin Barnes, reached on an error, Albert Pujols halved San Francisco's lead with a two-run homer. A one-out single brought the tying run to the plate but the closer was able to nail down the win to put the Giants alone in first place atop the NL West. McGee has now permitted runs in consecutive appearances, though San Francisco has won both games and he still possesses an excellent 2.81 ERA.

McGee allowed a run on three hits in one inning Friday versus the Dodgers. He was charged with a blown save.

EDGE Analysis

San Francisco nursed a 1-0 lead from the third to the ninth inning, but McGee wasn't able to slam the door before Chris Taylor's game-tying RBI single. McGee is 29-for-34 in save chances this season, although three of his five blown saves have come in his last 10 appearances. He owns a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 57:10 K:BB across 56.2 innings overall. Since he's pitched both Thursday and Friday, McGee might not be available should a save chance arise Saturday.