SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants are facing bullpen challenges after right-handed reliever Keaton Winn was placed on the injured list Sunday with a right elbow strain. The move came just days after Winn pitched in three consecutive games, including a costly appearance Monday night when he gave up three runs in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss.

Manager Tony Vitello, in his first season with the team, had called on Winn for a third straight outing against Chicago, a decision that has since drawn scrutiny. Winn had never pitched on three consecutive days in his minor league or major league career. The injury raises concerns about the strain placed on Winn’s arm, especially considering his history of elbow problems, including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and another procedure that sidelined him for much of the 2024 season.

Despite the outcome, Vitello emphasized that the decision was based on player availability and health assessments. He noted that during the pregame meetings with pitching coaches and medical staff, no concerns about Winn’s readiness were raised, and Winn himself did not report any discomfort before Monday’s game. Caleb Kilian, who had pitched in the previous two games with fewer pitches than Winn, was ruled out for the night due to elbow discomfort. Logan Webb, starting pitcher and one of the few players to avoid the team’s early morning travel disruptions, was at 99 pitches but did not express a desire to pitch in relief.

Vitello also disclosed that Webb was asked if he wanted to pitch the ninth inning, but Webb deferred the decision to the manager, responding: "It’s up to you. It’s your decision." Vitello faced a choice between extending Webb’s pitch count or relying on Winn for the final inning. Sources within the organization indicated some internal regret from Webb about not asserting himself more firmly in the moment.

Internally, the Giants had regarded Winn as the closer prior to the game, although Kilian was formally named the closer by Vitello later in the week. The team called up Tristan Beck from the minors to fill Winn’s roster spot following the injury.

Vitello acknowledged the difficulty in managing pitchers’ workloads, especially with an injury-prone arm like Winn’s, which relies heavily on a split-finger fastball. “I think part of it is the nature of the split-finger,” Vitello said when asked about a possible link between Winn’s usage and the injury. He expressed regret mostly about the runs allowed that cost the team the game rather than the injury itself, reflecting the heavy responsibility managers bear for bullpen decisions.

The Giants now hope Winn’s injury will require only a short absence, but with his history of elbow issues, the team’s medical staff is monitoring the situation closely to avoid further setbacks.