Two weeks ago, the first real disappointment of a very successful April of 2025 hit the Giants when they lost both games in San Diego and dropped the first of four with the Rockies. It was a good test, a small humbling dose that slightly extinguished the flames of even the most determined optimists in orange and black. And the Giants responded, giving good reason for labeling the brief three game skid as a one off by taking the final three games from Colorado before taking two of three from the red hot Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
That is precisely the last time you saw your Giants in the win column. Six days ago, a sunny afternoon victory in CHicago that put the Giants 10 games over .500 at 24-14. Since then, it’s been four straight losses, highlighted by a sweep in Minnesota and a 2-1 loss last night in the series opener against the Diamondbacks. A bit sooner than they;d certainly hoped, a second disappointing spell has befallen the now 24-18 Giants.
A struggling lineup once again failed a stellar pitching effort Monday night. As was the case on Friday and Saturday in Minnesota. A top heavy lineup, a cooling off from 1-5 has had disastrous implications considering 6-9 has been abysmal all year. San Francisco lost on Friday night 3-1, then fell 2-1 on Saturday evening. Getting next to zero production from the catcher and first base positions, it’s fair to wonder just how much longer the Giants can afford to routinely trot out Patrick Bailey and Lamonte Wade Jr.
Through Monday;s game, Bailey is hitting .183, with a brutal OPS of .477. He hasn’t homered in the 2025 season. Bailey is an interesting situation, given his sterling defense behind the plate. He’s coming off a Gold Glove award and could realistically claim another if he stays on the field. Wade Jr. hasn’t fared any better at the plate. His OPS is slightly better at .491, but his average sits at a shocking .145. Unlike Bailey, he doesn’t have the shield of elite defense to fall back on.
Notes:
Heliot Ramos is heating up, providing essentially the only Giants production during a forgettable weekend in Minneapolis. His average has crept up to .290, while his OPS sits at a respectable .850. The 2024 All-Star has blasted seven home runs, a figure that is probably a bit lower than he’d like but one that gives him a chance to end the Giants absurd 30-home run drought. Bonds was the last player to hit 30+ in 2004.
Justin Verlander is STILL searching for his first Giants win despite pitching more than well enough to deserve one multiple times in his first nine starts. On Monday, he surrendered just the two runs to Arizona. In a 2-1 loss, that’s enough to receive an undeserved loss. It’s coming, Justin.
On a much more positive note, the KNBR x Giants Community Fund auction is now live!
Learn more here: https://giants.auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/allAuction.action?sid=1102321&promoGroupList%5b0%5d.strValue1=GCF&rc=25