- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Giants Closer Struggles in First Save Opportunity of 2026 Season
Ryan Walker's shaky outing against the Padres raises early concerns about the Giants' closer situation.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:50am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In the San Francisco Giants' first win of the 2026 MLB season, closer Ryan Walker struggled to lock down the save against the San Diego Padres. Walker issued a four-pitch walk to start the inning, barely escaped a close call with Fernando Tatis Jr., and ultimately gave up a two-out, two-run home run before recording the final out. The performance did little to quell concerns about the Giants' closer situation heading into the new season.
Why it matters
The Giants' closer role was a major question mark entering the 2026 season, and Walker's shaky outing in the team's first save opportunity has already sparked criticism from fans and media members. A reliable closer is crucial for any playoff contender, so Walker's early struggles could become a significant issue if they persist.
The details
Walker entered the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead and immediately issued a four-pitch walk to Jake Cronenworth. He then struck out Fernando Tatis Jr., but only after a close 2-1 pitch was ruled a ball by the umpire. After a groundout, Jackson Merrill hit a two-run home run on a 3-2 pitch to make it a one-run game before Walker recorded the final out.
- On March 30, 2026, the Giants earned their first win of the season over the Padres.
- In the bottom of the ninth inning, Ryan Walker was called upon to record the save.
The players
Ryan Walker
The Giants' closer who struggled in his first save opportunity of the 2026 season, issuing a walk, narrowly escaping a close call, and giving up a two-run home run before recording the final out.
Jake Cronenworth
The Padres' leadoff hitter who drew a four-pitch walk to start the ninth inning against Walker.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Padres' star hitter who struck out against Walker, but only after a close 2-1 pitch was ruled a ball by the umpire.
Jackson Merrill
The Padres' hitter who hit a two-run home run off Walker in the ninth inning to make it a one-run game.
Lance Barksdale
The home plate umpire who made the controversial call on the 2-1 pitch to Tatis Jr.
What they’re saying
“I'm in /been in absolute disbelief that the Giants brought back Ryan Walker to close. Feels like the 49ers bringing back Jake Moody before eventually cutting ties mid-season. Hopefully Walker has a good start to the year.”
— Nick Newman, Formerly of All 49ers
“Need a new closer”
— trev
What’s next
The Giants and their fans will be closely watching to see if Walker can bounce back from this shaky outing and solidify the closer role. If he continues to struggle, the team may need to explore other options to stabilize the back end of their bullpen.
The takeaway
Ryan Walker's rocky first save opportunity has already raised concerns about the Giants' closer situation, which was a major question mark heading into the 2026 season. The team and its fans will be hoping Walker can quickly turn things around, but another poor outing or two could lead to increased scrutiny and potential changes in the bullpen.
