The Giants are back in action Saturday night with a new look at the top of the order and Cesar Perdomo getting the ball in Game 2 against the Padres.
San Francisco’s four-game set in San Diego opened with plenty of momentum on the Giants’ side after they swept the St. Louis Cardinals, but that three-game winning streak ended Friday. Robbie Ray, the former Giants starter, worked five innings for San Diego, and the Padres built a 7-1 lead before Rafael Devers blasted a grand slam into the night to pull the Giants within 7-5.
Now the Giants are trying to get back on track against a Padres club chasing a postseason spot. Tony Vitello’s lineup features Drew Gilbert leading off, followed by Devers in the two-hole and Bryce Eldridge batting third. Jonah Cox hits fourth, Turner Hill fifth, Jung Hoo Lee sixth, Shay Whitcomb seventh, Drew Cavanaugh eighth and Christian Koss ninth.
Game 1 was a tough one for the San Francisco offense. Eldridge and Devers were the only Giants who drove in runs, and the rest of the lineup will need to do more with Michael King starting for San Diego on Saturday.
Devers remains the central threat in the middle of the order. He comes in with 36 home runs and 96 RBIs, and he has handled King well in his career, going 5-for-11 with two home runs against him.
Lee is the only other Giants starter in the lineup who has faced King before, and the results have not been nearly as strong. He is 1-for-6 against the San Diego right-hander, and he’s also trying to shake off a September slump that has him hitting below .200 this month.
Cavanaugh is another name to watch. The rookie catcher has hit .318 in September with a .727 OPS, and even without his first big league homer, he has given Vitello quality at-bats and solid work behind the plate.
The Giants have shown what this offense can do, and games like this are another test of how much of that potential shows up right now.
In Other News...
Giants May Be Heading Toward A Willy Adames Decision Fast
When the Giants signed Willy Adames to a seven-year deal, they understood the position could eventually become part of the conversation. The expectation was that he might not stay at shortstop for the life of the contract, and this first season has only sharpened that possibility after a rough defensive run, including poor metrics and 18 errors, with a back injury also potentially playing a role.
For a club that leans heavily on defense and does not have much shortstop depth behind him, the question feels more immediate than theoretical. The upcoming offseason could force San Francisco to decide whether the best way to maximize Adames, and the roster around him, is to keep waiting for a rebound at the position or start planning a move sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Let Another Chance Slip In A Frustrating Padres Loss
Rafael Devers gave the Giants exactly the kind of jolt they needed at Oracle Park, launching a grand slam in a game that still ended in frustration with a 7-5 loss to the Padres. The blast was San Franciscos ninth grand slam of the season, tying a franchise record, and it helped keep the lineup in striking distance during a night when the offense had to work to stay alive.
The pitching side was a different story, with Anthony Molina taking the brunt of the damage in his third start before rookie Yunior Marte steadied things with five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Even with that late relief and a chance to keep a promising stretch rolling, the Giants came up short of a fourth straight win, leaving one more missed opportunity in a season already filled with them. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Bo Davidson May Still Have To Wait For His Shot
Bo Davidsons momentum took a hit in Sacramento after the outfielder fouled a ball off his ankle and came away with an ankle contusion, leaving him day-to-day for the River Cats. It is the latest small obstacle for a player whose performance has kept him on the Giants radar, even if the path to San Francisco remains narrow for now.
The bigger issue is roster math. The Giants already have a crowded outfield picture, which makes a late-season promotion look unlikely despite Davidsons strong showing in the minors. Still, his standing within the organization appears secure, and he is expected to be added to the 40-man roster in the offseason to keep him out of the Rule 5 Draft. [Read more 🡒]