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San Francisco Giants: 4 Bold Predictions for the 2017 Season

By Sean Bialaszek

Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Mark Melancon (43) celebrates after their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 5-2.Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Mark Melancon (43) celebrates after their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 5-2.Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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The start of the MLB season is fast approaching, and that means it’s prediction time. Here’s 4 bold predictions for the San Francisco Giants in 2017.

San Francisco Giants
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Mark Melancon (43) celebrates after their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 5-2.Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Mark Melancon Leads the National League in Saves

The San Francisco Giants spent a lot of money to bring in three-time All-Star Mark Melancon, $62 million to be exact, and Melancon is going to be worth the money in his first season in San Francisco.

Melancon comes to San Francisco with a career 2.60 ERA and 1.036 WHIP, and has posted an ERA under two in three of the last four seasons. The Giants have gotten used to seeing Melancon shut them down, as well. In his last 10 appearances against San Francisco, he hasn’t allowed a run, and has given up only three hits in 9.2 innings. In 16 total appearances, Melancon has saved 11 games against the Giants.

The Giants’ new closer has led the major leagues in saves before, doing so with 51 in 2015 in his final full season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last season, he was tied for second in baseball with 47 saves, split between the Pirates and the Washington Nationals. Only Jeurys Familia of the New York Mets had more.

The Giants have made quite a habit of playing a lot of close games over recent seasons (Giants’ baseball…torture!), so Melancon will have an abundance of opportunities to shut things down in the ninth inning. He’s currently 32 saves away from 200 in his career, and that’s a mark he should surpass fairly easily.

Melancon will be the first Giant since Brian Wilson in 2010 to lead the National League in saves. That year, he tied the franchise’s single-season record with 48 saves. Maybe Melancon can be the first Giant to reach 50 in one season.

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