The SF Giants are running out of runway, and the math is getting ugly.
With 78 losses already on the board and 32 games left to play, they need at least 11 wins to stay clear of 100 defeats. That’s a steep ask on its own. The problem is the path ahead doesn’t offer much relief, because the Giants are staring at one of the toughest remaining schedules in baseball.
For a franchise that has been around since the 1800’s, 100 losses is rare territory. The Giants have only done it once, back in 1985, when they finished 62-100. That season triggered a major reset: Jim Davenport was out as manager, Roger Craig was in, and Al Rosen took over as general manager.
The turnaround came fast. San Francisco won 83 games in 1986, then climbed all the way to 92 wins and a World Series berth by 1989. In today's game, that 1986 total would have put them on the edge of the playoff race, though this was still the pre-Wild Card era.
The Giants also came close to 100 losses in 2017, but managed to steer clear of that mark. Doing it again this year looks tougher.
There’s been no sign of a sweeping overhaul coming after the season. Buster Posey is under contract for one more year, and he has said he believes Tony Vitello will be back as manager next season. Changes to the coaching staff, though, seem likely.
For now, the focus is simply on getting through a season that has already gone off the rails and could get rougher before it ends.
There are a couple of softer stretches coming up first, including a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds and another three-game series against the New York Mets.
After that, the schedule tightens hard. The Giants still have six games each against the Los Angeles Dodgers and St.
Louis Cardinals, plus another three-game series with the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers are headed to the playoffs, while the Cardinals and Padres are still chasing spots of their own.
So the Giants are left with a simple but daunting task: win enough to avoid another infamous chapter in franchise history. If they can’t get to 10 more victories, they could finish with a new low in the wrong column.
In Other News...
Giants Roster Shakeup Leaves Fans Debating Two Tough Decisions
The Giants spent the lead-up to their game against the Reds reshaping the roster in a big way, making ten moves that underscored how quickly availability can change this time of year. Bryce Eldridge was placed on the bereavement list, while Willy Adames, Victor Bericoto and JT Brubaker landed on the injured list. Matt Wilkinson was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, and the club brought up Nate Furman, Grant McCray, Anthony Molina, Ryan Walker and Shay Whitcomb to fill the gaps.
For a team trying to stay balanced through injuries and performance decisions, the churn says as much about the moment as the lineup card does. The Giants now have to manage both the immediate roster puzzle and the longer question of which of these moves are simply temporary fixes and which ones could shape the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Face Another Pitching Concern They Couldnt Afford
The Giants pitching depth took another hit in the middle of a night they could ill afford one. Carson Whisenhunt left the game against the Reds with left elbow pain after throwing 47 pitches, and Jason Foley had to take over, finishing the third inning and then working a scoreless fourth to keep San Francisco afloat.
For a club that had already placed Willy Adames, Victor Bericoto and JT Brubaker on the injured list earlier in the day, any issue with a young arm only adds to the pressure. Whisenhunts exit leaves the Giants waiting to see how serious the elbow concern is, while the rest of the staff keeps absorbing the kind of attrition that can quickly change the shape of a season. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Stepped Into A Sponsor Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The Giants have added a new corporate partner in Kalshi, a federally regulated prediction market that will now show up through in-ballpark signage and radio promotions as part of the clubs latest marketing push. The deal gives San Francisco another way to fill the sponsorship pipeline, and team senior vice president of partnerships Steve Tseng said the organization is eager to work with Kalshi in ways that can enhance the fan experience.
Still, this is the kind of partnership that is likely to spark conversation well beyond the usual sponsor rollout. Kalshi is legal nationwide under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but it is also facing lawsuits from several states that say it functions as an illegal gambling platform, which puts the Giants in the middle of a debate some fans will not miss. For a franchise that prides itself on its ballpark atmosphere and broad appeal, the question is not just what the sponsor brings in, but how it sits with a public that is paying close attention to where sports and prediction markets intersect. [Read more 🡒]