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Giants place Melancon on DL, scheduled for MRI on elbow

John Hefti / USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants' dreadful 2017 season has claimed another with their closer, Mark Melancon, getting placed on the disabled list with a pronator strain in his elbow, the team announced Wednesday.

Since signing with the Giants this past offseason, Melancon hasn't pitched to his All-Star capabilities, posting a 4.35 ERA, 3.62 FIP, and 1.36 WHIP. The 32-year-old reliever has been dealing with elbow tendinitis all season, and will now require an MRI.

Over the four seasons before that, Melancon posted an impressive 1.80 ERA, 2.25 FIP, and 0.91 WHIP.

Expected to sell at the deadline, Melancon was likely considered a top trade chip, being connected in the rumor mill to his old team, the Washington Nationals.

Melancon, who came in during the ninth of the Giants' 14-inning victory Tuesday evening, didn't allow a baserunner in his inning of work while striking out two.

With Melancon removed from the 25-man roster, the Giants have promoted Dan Slania. The 25-year-old has split time in Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 6.44 ERA and 1.66 WHIP through 79 2/3 innings between both levels.

In Melancon's place, it appears Sam Dyson is in line to get the high-leverage save opportunities, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News.

Since being acquired from the Texas Rangers, the 29-year-old Dyson has posted a 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 7 1/3 innings. Dyson has not recorded a single save in 2017 after being ousted as the Rangers closer thanks to a 10.80 ERA over 16 2/3 innings of work.

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