The Giants didn’t exactly open their final series of the season with a jolt. They fell 2-0 to the Dodgers in a game that moved at a blistering pace - just one hour and 53 minutes, the fastest MLB game of the season, according to Alex Pavlovic on X (formerly Twitter).
Now San Francisco turns to rookie Matt Wilkinson, who gets the ball for the second game and his last start of the 2026 season. Wilkinson has given the Giants a welcome lift in a rotation that has had its share of problems, and his next step is the big question hanging over the offseason: starter, or something else?
Giants manager Tony Vitello didn’t close any doors when asked about Wilkinson’s future in the rotation in a recent NBC Sports Bay Area article by Pratham Valluri.
“I think with Tugboat, it's silly to limit what he can do, but I do think he's always going to kind of fit in that category if things are going to work out for him as a starter - he's just a get-it-done guy," Vitello said.
“He's equally good on lefties and righties, so I think he can be that one-inning guy. He's already shown that he could be a long relief guy. So why not find out if he can start and push it to the brink?"
That’s a strong sign for the 23-year-old, who is trying to lock down a long-term place at the Major League level. The real answer, though, won’t come until the offseason, when the Giants sort through what they do in free agency and on the trade market.
Even with that uncertainty, San Francisco knows it needs more starting depth beyond Logan Webb, who has been down by his own standards this year. Wilkinson heads into his final outing with a 3.65 ERA in seven games and five starts. His most recent appearance was one of his best, as he blanked the Dodgers over five innings, gave up three hits and struck out six.
For a rookie with limited work and those numbers, there’s plenty for the Giants to like. A strong finish could strengthen his case for a back-end rotation role next season, and if all goes well from there, he could keep moving up as the organization builds around him.
This last start won’t answer everything, but it should say plenty about where Wilkinson stands. And if he stays healthy and carries that form into spring training, he should be in the mix for the 2027 opening day roster, whether that ends up being as a starter or out of the bullpen.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Brutal Reality Check On Buster Poseys Roster
David Schoenfields final ESPN grades for all 30 clubs landed especially hard in San Francisco, where the Giants were one of just three teams to draw an F for the 2026 season. The evaluation matched the disappointing finish on the field: a losing record and a year that fell well short of the playoff hopes that hovered over the club before Opening Day. For a franchise that entered the season with expectations, the grade served as a blunt measure of how much ground was lost.
There were some reasons for optimism tucked into the overall review, including Bryce Eldridges strong rookie season and signs that the farm system is in better shape. Even so, Schoenfield pointed to underperforming contracts as part of the problem and put the spotlight on the front office led by Buster Posey to deliver a better response next season. The talent pipeline may be improving, but the big-league roster still has plenty to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Logan Webb Gives Giants Fans Something To Celebrate After A Tough Finish
Logan Webb gave Giants fans a reason to smile after a difficult finish, earning the 2026 Willie Mac Award as the clubs most inspirational player. The honor, one of the organizations most respected internal recognitions, capped a season in which Webb remained at the center of the rotation and continued to be one of the most important figures in the clubhouse.
It was also a year with some bumps along the way. Webb finished with a 4.31 ERA, landed on the injured list because of a finger blister, and still found enough peak form to win National League Pitcher of the Month in June and make his third straight All-Star team. For a Giants season that ended without much joy, Webbs award offered a reminder of how much he still meant to the group, and why the question around his next step matters so much. [Read more 🡒]
Camilo Doval Just Put His Giants Future Back In Focus
Camilo Doval is back on the Giants roster, and the move quietly nudges one of the more unusual pitching stories of the season back into view. San Francisco activated the reliever and sent Cesar Perdomo to Triple-A Sacramento to clear a spot, a procedural swap that carries extra weight because Dovals path to this point has been anything but straightforward.
After being traded twice in 2026, first from the Giants to the Yankees and then to the Pirates, Doval was designated for assignment and claimed back by San Francisco. He has said he wants to keep pitching for the Giants, and with one year of team control left, his return puts his place in the clubs future back on the table even as the roster churn around him continues. [Read more 🡒]