PITTSBURGH — The Giants’ return to Pittsburgh is a homecoming of sorts for reliever Mark Melancon, who recorded 130 career saves and posted a 1.80 ERA for the Pirates between 2013-2016.

Melancon was considered one of the most dominant closers in baseball following the 2016 season, which is why the Giants signed him to a four-year, $62 million deal that temporarily made Melancon the highest-paid reliever in baseball history.

Two-plus years into Melancon’s tenure in San Francisco, the right-hander has failed to live up to the expectations of his contract. Melancon has dealt with significant injury issues and saved just 14 games for the Giants, but he could soon have a chance to add to his total.

Manager Bruce Bochy revealed Friday the Giants will consider Melancon as an option to close games moving forward.

“He’s going to save some games for us,” Bochy said. “We’ll have him in that role sometimes.”

Bochy said left-hander Will Smith will remain the Giants’ primary closer, but after Melancon recorded nine straight scoreless outings to open the year, he has thrust himself into the conversation as a valuable option in high-leverage situations.

Smith is 4-for-4 in save chances this year with a 1.35 ERA in seven games, but Bochy loves having Smith available to face left-handed hitters late in games. If the Giants need Smith to get outs against tough lefties in the seventh or eighth innings of particular games, they could turn to Melancon to finish out the ninth.

“It’s nice to have Mark back healthy and throwing the ball the way we know he can,” Bochy said. “He’s gone two innings, so he’s made himself even more versatile which is invaluable for us.”

Melancon missed three separate chunks of time during his first year with the Giants due to a pronator injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery in September, 2017. The surgery was expected to alleviate his pain and allow him to return for Opening Day in 2018, but Melancon began last season on the injured list and saved just three games for the Giants.

Smith took over the closer role shortly after returning from Tommy John surgery last season and earned the job again with a dominant spring this year. Since taking over as the Giants’ primary closer, Smith has always said the inning he pitches does not matter to him as long as the club is positioned to win games.

Melancon has coveted the closer role and after one of his best outings as a Giant in a 4-2 loss to the Nationals Thursday, it’s clear the right-hander has regained the trust of Bochy and his staff.

“What a super job he did, we brought him in a tough predicament there and he just pitched lights-out,” Bochy said.

Melancon entered the game with runners on first and third and no one out and promptly struck out the first two hitters he faced before inducing a popout to end the inning.

Crick back in Pirates’ pen

Former Giants first round draft choice and reliever Kyle Crick was reinstated from the injured list by the Pirates on Tuesday and is available to face his former club this weekend.

The Giants sent Crick and outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds to the Pirates in January, 2017 to acquire outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Former general manager Bobby Evans later traded McCutchen to the Pirates for prospects Abiatal Avelino and Juan De Paula and new president of baseball operations sent De Paula to the Blue Jays in the deal that brought Kevin Pillar to the Giants earlier this month.

Crick posted a 2.39 ERA in 64 games in his first full season with the Pirates last year.