McGee’s return presents new options

Jake McGee is back off the Giants’ injured list after missing nearly three weeks with an oblique strain and now the question becomes: Is the lefthander still the team’s primary closer?

In McGee’s absence, San Francisco increasingly has turned to rookie Camilo Doval, who has earned three saves in the final week of the season, drawing comparisons to Francisco Rodriguez’s work with the Angels as a September callup in 2002.

“With Camilo, this is all brand new to him, he’s certainly not pitched this much before, and the major leagues is relatively new,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “Games like yesterday, today, previous games are all brand-spankin’ new and he’s handled them with grace.”

Doval throws 101 mph, and he has shown zero nerves in late-game situations, while McGee is a lefty and he has terrific experience, with 608 big-league games. He also has pitched in 10 postseason games, including in the World Series with the Dodgers last year. The NL Reliever of the Month in July, McGee has a career-high 31 saves and a 2.72 ERA.Then there’s right-hander Tyler Rogers, a submariner who has 13 saves, a 2.22 ERA and who has worked in a major-league high 80 games.

That’s three interesting looks for the late innings, allowing the Giants to mix and match.

McGee wasn’t used Saturday in the Giants’ 10-inning loss, but Kapler indicated he could have been among those to pitch had the game continued.

“We obviously want to try to find a spot where we can watch him pitch first — it’s been a while,” Kapler said. “We’d like to find a different kind of spot for him, but look, if we have to use Jake in a big moment, we’re comfortable with it.”

To make room for McGee, the Giants optioned infielder Thairo Estrada to Triple-A Sacramento.

Game 163: Tickets for a possible Game 163, an NL West tiebreaker between the Giants and Dodgers, are on sale on the Giants’ website.

The game would be Monday at Oracle Park, with the time to be determined.

Fans are limited to eight tickets. Refunds will be paid seven to 10 days after the Giants’ final postseason games if a Game 163 is not required.