​SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — MAY 16: Matt Gage, wearing number 93 for the San Francisco Giants, pitches in the ninth inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 16, 2026. The scene, captured by Scott Marshall for Getty Images, shows Gage delivering a late-inning effort in front of the California crowd. Earlier, in Denver, Colorado, on July 4, Gage faced the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, again in the ninth inning, with Caleb Kilian (number 45) pitching for the Giants as well. Dustin Bradford photographed that moment for Getty Images.
Gage’s season took a turn on July 4 when the Giants placed the left-handed reliever on the injured list with a left elbow strain after he threw 51 pitches against Colorado. He entered the game in the fourth inning after ace Logan Webb surrendered seven runs in the first three frames. Gage allowed six more runs before exiting, his velocity noticeably down, prompting manager Tony Vitello to pull him from the mound.
The four-year MLB veteran underwent an MRI a few days later, and the results provided guarded optimism ahead of San Francisco’s next tilt with the Toronto Blue Jays. NBC Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic summarized the news: “Matt Gage received relatively good news from the doctors. He has a moderate flexor strain and will receive a PRP injection and be reevaluated in a month.”
Gage had shown promise in 2025, earning a spot on the 2026 Opening Day roster. He joined fellow lefties Sam Hentges and Erik Miller as the Giants’ three left-handed relievers. Yet through his second season in San Francisco, Gage has struggled to replicate his earlier form. In 27.1 innings pitched this year, he has surrendered 17 earned runs for a 5.60 ERA. A recurring issue has been the baserunner problem and control: 17 walks in those 27.1 innings highlight the walk-rate burden on Gage and the bullpen.
San Francisco’s relief corps has struggled collectively, posting a 4.63 ERA across the season, ranking 24th in MLB. The club’s bullpen changes hark back to the previous offseason, when President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey traded away notable relievers Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval. The Giants chose to retool with left-handed reliever Sam Hentges and right-hander Jason Foley; Hentges has performed well with a 2.20 ERA, while Foley has yet to debut for the team. The closing duties have been unsettled by the absence of All-Star closer Randy Rodriguez, who required season-ending Tommy John surgery this offseason. As a result, San Francisco has blown 11 saves so far this season, underscoring the bullpen’s ongoing challenges.
In Denver on July 4, the Giants’ pitching staff, including Kilian’s ninth-inning appearance, capped a contentious stretch in which the team has attempted to stabilize a shaky bullpen while navigating injuries and roster moves. The franchise remains hopeful that Gage’s return, along with the continued development of Hentges, Foley, and the rest of the bullpen, will help restore stability to a relief corps that has struggled to lock down late-game leads.