No rush with Melancon

Mark Melancon won’t return to the closer’s role anytime soon because it’s more practical for the Giants to monitor him as a setup man, away from the ninth inning.

Melancon said Tuesday that he’s fine with how he’s being used. “I’m trying to make sure the team is first,” he said a day after appearing in a second straight game for the first time since coming off the disabled list Aug. 12.

It’s not as if Melancon, who signed for $62 million in the offseason, has appeared in low-leverage situations. He pitched a scoreless eighth Monday, retiring the top three Brewers in the lineup, in the Giants’ home shutout.

“I’ve been throwing a lot more to slowly get loose, trying to make an adjustment there,” Melancon said. “That’s one way to kind of ease into it.”

Manager Bruce Bochy said Melancon, still feeling the effects of his pronator (forearm) strain, is physically able to pitch the ninth, but Sam Dyson will keep the role for now.

“I’ll probably keep (Melancon) where he’s at,” Bochy said. “I want to make sure we take care of him. We’re going to monitor him the rest of the way and make sure he’s OK.” Winter ball: Several top prospects have been injured this season, lessening opportunities for management to fully evaluate them. So winter ball is in their futures.

Austin Slater and Ryder Jones appear destined for spots in the Dominican Republic, and Christian Arroyo isa possibility there. Joan Gregorio, who’s serving a PED suspension, also will play winter ball in his native Dominican Republic.

Slater is seven to 10 days from beginning a rehab assignment, and the Giants hope he’ll be able to play the final week of Triple-A Sacramento’s season, which ends Sept. 4.

Other top prospects who have been injured, Tyler Beede and Steven Duggar, could be destined for the Arizona Fall League.