The San Francisco Giants have dealt with persistent bullpen issues throughout their difficult 2026 season, but following the team’s latest collapse in the ninth inning, analyst and former All-Star pitcher Shawn Estes directed his criticism elsewhere.

San Francisco carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals on Monday but ultimately suffered a 4-3 defeat. All three runs in the final frame were charged to Keaton Winn.

Rather than place responsibility on Winn for the blown save, Estes argued the situation should never have reached that point.

During his postgame analysis for Giants Baseball on NBC Sports Bay Area, Estes acknowledged that Winn would likely receive most of the criticism but explained that he did not believe the reliever deserved it.

Estes pointed to Winn’s recent workload as the bigger issue. The outing against Washington marked Winn’s third consecutive appearance. He had pitched in Sunday night’s win over the Chicago Cubs before the Giants immediately traveled across the country to host the Nationals the following day.

According to Estes, the demanding stretch had already accumulated over the previous road trip. Winn appeared in four games and, in three of those outings, was required to record five outs.

Estes suggested Winn showed signs of fatigue in the ninth inning and noted that the execution of his splitter reflected that. His larger point was that the Giants should not have asked Winn to protect the lead in that spot.

Instead, Estes believed the responsibility should have stayed with Logan Webb.

“The guy’s arm is tired,” Estes said. “And you could tell in the ninth inning, based on the mistakes he was making with that split, that he just didn’t have it. His arm was beat. My point is that he shouldn’t even be in the game today. You know who should be in the game? The guy that started the game.”

Webb dominated across eight innings, allowing just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. The performance followed another strong start in which Webb threw seven shutout innings during a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on June 3.

Estes emphasized that Webb is the staff ace and argued he has previously shown the ability to work beyond the 100-pitch mark. He also suggested Webb had earned the opportunity to finish what had been one of his strongest outings of the season.

Estes further argued that extending Webb could have protected an overworked bullpen and maintained the advantage.

Winn retired the first hitter of the ninth before the inning unraveled. He allowed a double to James Wood and then hit Luis García Jr., putting the tying run aboard with CJ Abrams coming to the plate.

A wild pitch advanced both runners, leaving first base open. Estes viewed that as a clear opportunity to intentionally walk Abrams.

Instead, San Francisco pitched to him, and Abrams tied the game with a two-run single. Winn later struck out Dylan Crews but surrendered a go-ahead single to Daylen Lile after Abrams stole second. Dylan Smith recorded the final out.

The Giants threatened in the bottom of the ninth but could not respond.

For Estes, the game had already been decided by the pitching decision before that inning unfolded.

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