SF Giants RECLAIM First Place - WEEK IN REVIEW

It was an ugly start for the San Francisco Giants this week. However, they made it all the sweeter when they reclaimed first place by Sunday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants arrived back in San Francisco after they lost two of three against Atlanta. The change of scenery didn't make much of a difference against the Milwaukee Brewers. A four-game series turned into three losses.

Corbin Burnes owned the San Francisco hitters in-game one with nine strikeouts, and just one earned run through six innings. Jose Alvarez got the start and allowed two runs in 1.2 innings, all earned. The Giants used seven pitchers, and their only RBI was a single by Brandon Crawford, which plated Brandon Belt.

Game two was worse as the Brewers scored six runs in just four innings. Johnny Cueto allowed ten hits, six earned runs, and walked two in 3.2 innings. In the sixth, Belt would get the Giants on the board with his 20th home run, and then Wilmer Flores would homer in the ninth. However, Brandon Woodruff went six solid innings and struck out while only giving up the one run to Belt's dinger.

Game three was devastating in multiple ways. First, the loss as the Brewers hammered the Giants for the third straight game (5-2). The Giants also matched their longest losing streak of the season while also losing control of first place. The team was on top of the NL West for a San Francisco-era best 108 days. They took control of first on May 30.

Gabe Kapler mentioned about the Giants losing control:

"We just have to try to go after it and get back into that position," San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said.

Kevin Gausman gave the Giants a strong outing. He struck out seven over five innings and allowing two earned runs in the second inning. When Lorenzo Cain hit a one-out single with the bases loaded, scoring Avisail Garcia and Omar Narvaez. San Francisco tied the game in the fifth when Kris Bryant doubled to score Alex Dickerson. After an intentional walk to Belt, Buster Posey singled to right field, scoring Bryant. Unfortunately, the Giants would go on to lose the contest and continue their losing streak. Posey commented on the losing four in a row.

 "Any time you have a little losing streak, it's not fun," Posey said. "This group's shown an ability to bounce back throughout the year, and that's just what you have to believe you're going to do."

Game four gave the Giants a chance to bounce back and tie the Dodgers for first place as Los Angeles had the day off. It was precisely what San Francisco did, winning 5-1 with great pitching from their Ace Logan Webb.

Webb was magical, throwing seven complete innings and striking out ten while allowing just one earned run. Tyler Rodgers (5-1) got the victory as Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer was also dominant by allowing just one earned run in seven innings.

It was in the eighth inning that San Francisco took control against reliever Devin Williams. Second baseman Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer after Darin Ruf doubled to left field, scoring Bryant. The four-run eight gave the Giants all the runs they needed, and Jake McGee came on to close out the ninth in a non-save appearance.

Devin Williams

Giants manager Gabe Kapler commented on the critical victory leading into the crucial three-game home series against the Dodgers.

"I think it was a much-needed victory for us," Kapler said. "It's a good boost of confidence going into the next series, but obviously, all of our attention and focus was on today's game."

Game one against the Los Angeles Dodgers was a wild one. In the third, the Giants took the lead when Austin Slater singled to left field and scored pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. The 1-0 lead remained until the top of the ninth when Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor singled to center field, scoring Josh Turner. The game remained tied after the ninth, and the contest went into extra innings.

Los Angeles scored first in the tenth as Trea Turner hit a sacrifice fly to center, which plated Walker Buehler. Crawford would tie the game in the bottom of the tenth when he hit a single to center field and scoring Posey. Crawford would come up big again in the top of the 11th. After a Corey Seager single putting runners on first and third. Will Smith hit a ground ball to Crawford, and he threw out Josh Turner at home. Jarlin Garcia would strike out the next two batters.

In the bottom of the 11th, after Ruf struck out and Belt intentionally walked, Bryant earned a seven-pitch walk and loading the bases. Dickerson then grounded out into a fielder's choice, and Mike Yastrzemski was thrown out at home. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Posey grounded the ball to second baseman Trea Turner. Still, Turner threw an errant ball to first base, pulling Smith off the bag and allowing Posey to reach safely, leading the Giants to victory.

DeSclafani was impressive as he allowed no runs through six innings pitched. McGee received the blown save (5), while Garcia got his sixth victory on the season.

The second game against Los Angeles was not nearly as close. The Giants turned to the bullpen to start the game, and from the start, Jay Jackson gave up three runs. San Francisco would use seven more pitchers in the 6-1 defeat.

Posey did drive in a run for his 43rd RBI. Still, Julio Urias was dominating for 5.2 innings allowing eight hits and striking out eight. The victory allowed a two-way tie for first place in the NL division with a rubber match on the line in game three.

The last game of the series would begin with another bullpen session for the Giants. Dominic Leone would start and face Cy Young contender Walker Buehler. Leone would only pitch the first inning, and the Giants would take advantage of an off-day from Buehler, and he admitted it after the game.

"The worst I've thrown in a long time," Buehler said.

In the first, Belt would homer for his 21st of the season. In the second, San Francisco would retake the lead after the Dodgers scored in the second. This time Steven Duggar would triple to right field and score Crawford and Yastrzemski. Ruf would hit a pinch-hit single and driving in Duggar, giving the Giants a 4-1 lead.

In the third, San Francisco would extend their three-run lead. Crawford doubled to right field, scoring LaMonte Wade. Then Curt Casali singled to left field, scoring Crawford giving San Francisco a 6-1 lead. It would remain until the ninth inning.

Steven Duggar reacts after hitting a triple Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers

McGee would take the mound, and Kris Bryant's untimely error allowed Austin Barnes to reach first safely. Albert Pujols would bat for Andrew Vasquez. Pujols would hit a home run to center field and pulling the Dodgers within two runs. It would be the last run allowed by the Giants.

McGee would get Trea Turner to pop out. Still, after Max Muncy got a lazy single that made it through the infield, Mookie Betts would strike out looking, and Justin Turner popped out to left-field for the final out.

Kapler talked about the back-to-back days of only bullpen pitching:

"Back-to-back bullpen days are tough," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. "That's no secret. Sort of a hallmark of this team is being able to handle challenging situations and being good at handling challenging situations."

The Giants also avoided a three straight series defeat this season. Belt mentioned the pressure during the game.

"It really felt like a playoff atmosphere out there," Belt said, "... It's crunch time."

Transactions:

Per ESPN

September 5, 2021

Optioned LHP Sammy Long to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Placed CF Austin Slater on the 7-day IL. Recalled RHP Camilo Doval and CF Steven Duggar from Sacramento.

September 4, 2021          

Recalled IF/OF Mauricio Dubón from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Placed OF Alex Dickerson on the 10-day IL.

September 3, 2021          

Reinstated INF Evan Longoria from the 10-day IL. Optioned INF/OF Mauricio Dubon to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

September 2, 2021          

Placed 2B Wilmer Flores on the 10-day IL Recalled SS Maurico Dubon from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 31, 2021               

Announced 3B coach Ron Wotus stepping away from full-time coaching at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Added LHP Jose Quintana to the active roster. Reinstated RHP Johnny Cueto from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP John Brebbia and INF Jason Vosler to Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 30, 2021               

Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on the 10-day IL. Recalled LHP Caleb Baragar, RHP John Brebbia and INF/OF Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970s. In his first game, he saw live Jack Clark hit a home run. He has seen the Giants lose 100 games and also win three World Series rings. Great/Unfortunate memories have been watching Joe Morgan hit a homer to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs. Seeing the Giants win 104 games and still not make the playoffs. Most painfully watch the Giants lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6. However, he saw Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all time.

Follow me @RFLRedZone.

SF Giants vs LA Dodgers CLASH OF THE SEASON - Series Preview

Amazingly, as we enter September and prepare for the biggest series of the season in the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants not only have the exact same record at this point in the season, but they also are also evenly matched with an 8-8 record against each other. The only metric that may be in the Dodgers favor at this point is momentum, as they have been scorching hot while the Giants just salvaged one game in the last 2 series - a 3-game series in Atlanta and a 4-game series against the Brewers in San Francisco.

That is why tonight’s game is so vital, as who ever wins will take sole possession of first place and immediately take the momentum into the Game 2. This will by no means be a cakewalk for either club and if Dodgers fans assume it will be, they should remember the Dodgers losing multiple games recently against teams like the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels. In baseball, it’s never easy, and a team like the Giants - even when they are having a terrible season which is clearly not this year - always step up and give the Dodgers everything they want. Expect no different in this series.

Friday, September 3rd

Tonight’s matchup begins with David Price for the Dodgers against Anthony Desclafani for the Giants. Price is no longer an elite starting pitcher but he should not be underestimated either. His ERA is solid at 4.37 this season in 33 appearances, only 11 of which were starts. In just his starts, he has held opposing hitters to a .234 batting average. His ERA is also very solid except for during the 1st inning, where he has a 5.73 ERA. If the Giants plan to do damage against Price, the first inning could be his most susceptible based on his performance so far this year.

Anthony Desclafani has been lights out for the Giants for a large part of the season. However, there is one team he has consistently struggled against. You guessed it - the Los Angeles Dodgers. In five starts against the Dodgers, he has a 9.43 ERA, allowing 6 home runs in 21 innings along with 31 hits and 12 walks. This is something that can’t be ignored going into this series. However, the overall pictures has been solid for Desclafani, as he has an 11-6 record with a 3.38 ERA and should have probably been an All Star after a stellar first half, but was unfortunately snubbed from the roster.

Saturday, September 4th

Unfortunately, another problem the Giants have coming into this series is a lack of reliable starting arms and the starter for Saturday is currently TBD. Both Johnny Cueto and Alex Wood are unavailable with Wood testing positive for Covid-19 and Cueto missing a start with illness then getting lit up the next day when he tried to pitch. The Dodgers will try to take advantage of this with the Giants possibly using Jose Quintana, who did not have a good year with the Angels but did pitch well in his Giants debut, or Sammy Long, who has looked solid lately but certainly isn’t going to be favored over the Dodgers starter, Julio Urias.

Urias only leads the entire league in wins and after a couple of rough outings, he put together his best month of the season in August, going 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA. His last 3 outings against San Francisco have been solid and the Dodgers should be favorites in Game 2, which is another reason why Game 1 is so vital as the Giants will have Anthony Desclafani going, at least one healthy arm that has been reliable for them this year (albeit not against the Dodgers).

Sunday, September 5th

The Giants have not announced their pitcher for Sunday either, but no matter who they throw out there, the Dodgers will be favorites with Walker Buehler, the possible Cy Young Award winner this year, taking the hill. He is 13-2 with a 2.05 ERA and is clearly one of the best pitchers in the game today. With proper rest, neither Kevin Gausman nor Logan Webb would be available for this series. Gausman should be set to start Monday against the Rockies unless he’s bumped up to Sunday. Otherwise, the Giants will have to rely on a combination of their bullpen and again, Quintana or Long, to compete against Buehler. Again, Game 1 is absolutely critical.

SF Giants Sweep Mets But Falter in Atlanta - Claim Jose Quintana (Week In Review)

The San Francisco Giants took a two-game win streak into New York to face the Mets for three games, then onto Atlanta for another three games this week. How did they fare?

Game 1 against New York was anything but the battle the Giants faced against the Oakland Athletics. San Francisco jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the fourth inning, all off of Mets rookie Tylor Megill and all of them earned runs. They would add another run in the eighth to win (8-0).

Brandon Belt hit two of San Francisco's four home runs to push his career-best total to 19. Belt ended a 2-for-30 skid with two homers and a single in his first three plate appearances and added an RBI infield single in the eighth for his season-high fourth hit. The 33-year-old had never topped 18 homers in the big leagues.

Rookie Sammy Long pitched into the sixth inning, and the Giants trounced the slumping New York Mets 8-0 Tuesday night. Long (2-1) tossed a three-hitter over 5 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old hadn't pitched above low-Class A before this season, but the left-hander with a big-breaking curveball was sharp in his sixth big league start, striking out four and walking one.

LaMonte Wade Jr. and Mike Yastrzemski also connected in the first four innings. The Giants jumped to a 7-0 advantage against Megill (1-3).

Game 2 was a bit closer. It was a surprisingly messy performance from the Giants. They committed two errors. One by Kris Bryant, who sailed a throw from third base nearly into right field. While outfielders Austin Slater and Alex Dickerson bumped into each other and dropped a fly-ball. The error was directed toward Dickerson. Also, Belt dropped a foul ball. Giants manager Gabe Kapler commented:

"Tonight, it wasn't good enough. I think everybody knows that," San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said. "That said, it's a win on the road against a really hungry team."

However, San Francisco induced five double plays. A timely hit from Brandon Crawford saved the major league-leading Giants. Crawford's two-run double in the seventh, which turned into the winning runs. Bryant homered in the fourth for their first run.

The Giants had to dodge a bullet in the ninth as the Mets loaded the bases with two outs. Still, Jake McGee got Pete Alonso to pop out to second to end the threat and earn his 29th save on the season after Tyler Rodgers earned his 24th hold.

Johnny Cueto got the start after being activated from the injured list for the first time since August 9 due to a right flexor strain. He gave up five hits and three walks with an unearned run while striking out two.

Game 3 became a sweep for the Giants. Bryant launched a two-run homer, and Darin Ruf broke the eighth-inning tie with an RBI single to right field. Bryant's home run was his 24th on the season and his sixth with San Francisco. He now has hit four of those six against the Mets beginning on August 16.

Ruf's RBI came when Yastrzemski singled against pitcher Seth Lugo to start the eight, and the pitch hit catcher Curt Casali. Ruf then hit his single through the right side of the infield to give the Giants the winning run (3-2). Rodgers would earn his 12th save. Bryant would comment on his new team.

"I can honestly say I've never really been on a team where we had a bullpen like this," Bryant said. "There's zero selfishness here."

San Francisco traveled to Atlanta and August 27 and would lose, ending their five-game winning streak. It was a disappointing defeat as the Giants had a two-run lead late in the game.

Buster Posey put the Giants on top in the first with a two-run homer scoring Slater. In the second, pitcher Kevin Gausman grounded into a fielder's choice to score Yastrzemski on a throwing error by Braves' catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Tommy La Stella would double and score Thairo Estrada on the play in the fourth, putting the Giants up by two runs (4-2).

The lead was lost in the seventh as Zach Littell gave up a three-run home run to Atlanta Braves right fielder Jorge Solar. The homer came after Ozzie Albies doubled in Joc Pederson.

The Giants almost made a comeback in the ninth. Wilmer Flores hit a home run. With two-outs, La Stella hit a deep drive to right field, where Pederson made the catch by first overrunning the ball but reaching back and making a jump into the wall to snare the ball in the heel of his glove. He was able to hold on as he crashed to the ground.

Game 2 against Atlanta was more successful as the Giants won 5-0 as Logan Webb pitched another gem. He threw seven strong innings to win his seventh consecutive decision. Webb has eight victories and only three defeats this season and has 13 straight starts in which he has not allowed more than two runs.

Braves manager Brian Snitker was impressed with Webb. He stated:

"That's a real sinker," Snitker said. "He’s got a good slider, change. He can elevate his fastball. He’s good. ... I’m very impressed with that guy.”

La Stella hit a homer in the first and added his second RBI when he hit a sacrifice fly to right in the third to score Webb, who earlier doubled to left field. Yastrzemski added a home run to center field in the seventh. Ruf singled to left to plate Posey in the eighth while Yastrzemski got his second RBI when he doubled to left to score Flores, putting the Giants up 5-0.

It was a crucial bounce-back game for San Francisco after heartbreakingly losing game one.

 Game 3 was an ugly contest against the Braves. Anthony DeSclafani gave up three runs all earned and two home runs in the fourth. DeSclafani came off the injured list after an ankle pain sidelined him since August 18. He retired the first six batters, but Jorge Soler hit a home run to lead off the fourth, and Austin Riley hit his 28th homer with Freddie Freeman at first base.

The Braves would continue to add precisely two runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth inning. All six runs were charged to Long. The Giants couldn’t plate anyone, which was the first time since over a month ago when San Francisco lost to the Dodgers 8-0 on July 28 at home. It was also the last time they lost by more than five runs.

Even though the Giants lost the series to Atlanta, it was the first series loss since San Francisco faced St. Louis on July 18. The Giants also didn’t lose any ground to the Dodgers in the standings as they still maintain a 2.5 game lead.

Transactions:

Per ESPN 

August 30, 2021

Claimed LHP Jose Quintana off waivers from Los Angeles Angels.

August 29, 2021

Reinstated 1B Brandon Belt from the bereavement list. Reinstated RHP Anthony DeSclafani from the 10-day IL. Optioned SS Thairo Estrada to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Designated RHP Tyler Chatwood for assignment. Signed 1B Wyatt Mathisen to a minor league contract.

August 27, 2021

Reinstated RHP Kevin Gausman from the 10-day IL. Optioned C Chadwick Tromp to Sacramento.

August 26, 2021

Placed INF Brandon Belt on the bereavement list. Placed INF Donovan Solano on the 10-day IL. Recalled C Chadwick Tromp and INF Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 25, 2021

Reinstated RHP Johnny Cueto from the 10-day IL.

August 24, 2021

Placed RHP Kevin Gausman on the 10-day IL. Reinstated INF Evan Longoria from the 10-day IL.

Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970’s. His first game he saw live Jack Clark hit a home run. He has seen the Giants lose 100 games and also win three World Series rings. Great/Unfortunate memories have been watching Joe Morgan hit a homer to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs, seeing the Giants win 104 games and still not make the playoffs, and lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6, but see Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all-time.

Follow me @RFLRedZone.

SF Giants Starting Pitching a Problem? Week In Review...

It has been a roller-coaster of a week for the Giants. The offense is getting plenty of pop, but the starting pitching is faltering. One reason is that the schedule hasn't been too kind to them. First facing the New York Mets, who are faltering but still a .500 ball club. Then the Oakland Athletics (70-55) and have the seventh-best record in baseball.

The first game against the Mets was an exciting scoring affair as the Giants won 7-5, and Jake McGee earned his 26th save. Kris Bryant hit two home runs, and Brandon Crawford went four-for-four at the plate. Brandon Belt also got in the mix and hit a homer and was part of the back-to-back jacks with Bryant. Gausman was shaky, allowing five hits and three runs in earning his 12th victory.

According to manager Gabe Kapler:

"This was the best we've seen him in quite some time," Kapler said. "The fastball had a ton of life on it, and the velocity was up. The split was much better. His mechanics were good."

The second game against New York was more of a pitching duel which the Giants won 3-2 as Logan Webb got the victory pitching 7.1 innings and striking out eight. At the same time, Dominic Leone earned his first save. When he launched his second home run of the season, Tommy La Stella put the Giants up 2-0, and Evan Longoria also got his 10th homer in the seventh to put San Francisco up for good.

As for Webb, he continues his dominance over the last three months. He has struck out 65 hitters, including the eight against the Mets. Webb did respond after giving up the two-run homer to Pete Alonso in the eighth inning.

Pete Alonso

"I was just more mad with the pitch I threw. I knew we were going to close that out with the guys in our 'pen," Webb said. "So there was no worrying. I was super excited with how it went, just a little frustrated how it ended."

Gabe Kapler had nothing but good words about Webb.

"I don't think there's any denying that he's been among the league's best starters — not just ours, but the league's best starters — over the last couple months since he came off the IL," Kapler said. "He's gotten better and better and today was his most efficient outing to date. Efficiency is the thing that kind of gives you the hope that he can keep doing this."

Bryant was held out of the lineup due to tightness in his hamstring he felt during batting practice. He would be in the lineup against the Mets in the final game of the series.

The third game against the Mets was a hard pill to swallow. San Francisco took the lead in the third when LaMonte Wade doubled in Alex Dickerson. It was the only run in the game until New York tied in the ninth when Alonso was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and would later score by J.D. Davis' sacrifice fly to right field.

After both teams scored in the 11th, newly acquired Tyler Chatwood would allow three earned runs in the 12th, and the Giants would lose 6-2. The Giants had to use up nine pitchers as Anthony DeSclafani left after an inning and a third. It would not get better as the Giants traveled to take on the Athletics on August 20 in a three-game series.

In the first game, Athletics pitcher James Kaprielian kept the Giants at bay by allowing a run in five innings pitched. The run came via a homer by Mike Yastrzemski, who snapped a 3-for-26 slump with his 19th home run on the season. Alex Wood earned the loss after being unbeaten in 11 starts. He is now 10-4 after allowing two runs in five innings.

The second game against the two Bay Area clubs looked as though the Giants would earn their third straight defeat. Gausman struggled once again as he allowed two earned runs in 3.2 innings and five total runs. In seven starts since the break, Gausman has made it through six innings once.

San Francisco was down 5-2 going into the seventh inning. Their only runs were a Bryant homer that scored Darin Ruf. The Giants would pull closer in the seventh when both Belt and Ruf hit back-to-back home runs off of Andrew Chafin, pulling the Giants within one run.

It was in the ninth when the sparks began to fly. After Buster Posey struck out, Belt walked. Wade was sent in to bat for Ruf, blasted a homer to right field just by the foul pole, and put San Francisco in the winner seat 6-5. Wade now has 16 homers on the season. Kapler commented on the big moment for Wade.

 "One of the reasons I like LaMonte coming up in a big moment like that in a big pinch-hit spot, cold off the bench, is because of the way he leads off a game," Kapler said. "He leads off the game ready from pitch one. We know he's dangerous enough where can put the ball in the seats like he did."

The rubber match against Oakland became a pitching duel between Webb and Frankie Montas. In the Sixth, the A's took the lead by scoring the first run as Mark Canha singled to the right, driving in Tony Kemp, who previously doubled. However, the Giants would take the lead in the eighth. After Wilmer Flores and Ruf both grounded out, Austin Slater walked, bringing up pinch-hitter Donovan Solano. On the first pitch (sinker), Solano jacked a two-run homer to left field.

Kapler commented on the big moment for Solano.

"The power stroke hasn't shown up quite as much this year, but we know it's still in there, so certainly doesn't surprise any of us in the dugout that Donovan was able to jump on that pitch," manager Kapler said.

McGee earned his 28th save. The Giants have won eight consecutive series and haven't lost since their home set against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of July.

Transactions:

Per ESPN

August 22, 2021: Placed INF Evan Longoria on the 10-day IL. Returned RHP Reyes Moronta from rehab assignment and optioned to Sacramento (Triple-A East). Recalled LHP Sammy Long and RHP Jay Jackson from Sacramento. Placed RHP Anthony DeSclaflani on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 19.

August 17, 2021: Selected the contract of RHP Tyler Chatwood from Sacramento (Triple-A West) and agreed to terms on a major league contract. Optioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento. Placed RHP Tyler Beede on the 60-day IL.

SF Giants Keep Rollin'!! Week In Review (8/9/21-8/15/21)

It was another successful week for the San Francisco Giants. They won five of six contests at home and against their division (Arizona and Colorado). San Francisco had a couple of stars to help them along the way, and many of them are part-time players. For instance, Alex Dickerson went five for ten and had a home run with three RBI.

Other Giants contributed, such as LaMonte Wade Jr (.263) with two homers and three runs batted in. While Tommy La Stella has been hitting with a hot bat (.400) and two RBI. Brandon Crawford resigned, and it didn’t slow him down as he hit a home run with three RBI and batted .400 over the week.

Even though San Francisco was winning, they had a couple that was entirely too close. They had a walk-off against Arizona on Tuesday as Wade scored the winning run when the first baseman Christian Walker couldn’t handle Kris Bryant’s sharp ground ball.

The Giants also breathed a sigh of relief against the Colorado Rockies on “Orange Friday” as they came one run away from going into the bottom of the ninth after leading 5-4 going into the inning. Wilmer Flores hit a three-run homer, and Thairo Estrada added an RBI in the first. In his save appearance, Jake McGee couldn’t finish the game, and Zack Littell had to come in for his second save on the season.

Newcomer Bryant did not have a successful week at the plate. He batted only .238 and had the critical RBI that won the game for the Giants. However, he is formidable at the plate and can add value nearly anywhere on the field.

Notes:

• Alex Wood won his 10th game on the season on Sunday and has 4.14 ERA.

• Anthony DeSclafani won his 11th game and has a 3.29 ERA.

• Logan Webb won his 6th and has a 2.96 ERA.

• Jake McGee made his 25th save on Sunday.

• Tyler Rodgers made his 21st hold on Sunday.

Transactions:

Per ESPN

August 15, 2021 Reinstated RHP Jay Jackson from the IL. Optioned LHP Sammy Long to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Recalled OF Luis Gonzalez from Sacramento and placed on the 60-day IL.

August 14, 2021 Recalled LHP Sammy Long From Sacramento (Triple-A West). Returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from 60-day IL. Optioned INF Thairo Estrada to Sacramento. Placed RHP Jay Jackson on the 10-day IL. Reinstated 3B Evan Longoria from the 60-day IL.

August 13, 2021 Agreed to terms with SS Brandon Crawford on a two-year contract. Reinstated RHP Anthony DeSclafani from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP Camilo Doval to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Placed RHP Aaron Sanchez on unconditional release waivers.

August 12, 2021 Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 9. Recalled INF Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 11, 2021 Claimed RF Luis Gonzalez off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Recalled SS Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).

August 10, 2021 Optioned RHP John Brebbia to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Recalled RHP Camilo Doval from Sacramento.

Giants Updates: Kris Bryant's Initial Week+ With the San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have been the surprise team in Major League Baseball. With the addition of Kris Bryant, they should only be better. Let's review the first week with Bryant and see how much beneficial the Giants have been? Before his arrival, San Francisco's record was 65-39 and a winning percentage of 625 percent of their contests.

Bryant received his first start in San Francisco against the Houston Astros, and it didn't take long for him to shine. Even though he had just one hit on the day, it was a home run eradicating a strikeout and his 1 for 4 performance at the plate. Bryant would continue to struggle as the Giants traveled to Arizona.

In the first three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bryant would see 12 plate appearances and only get two hits, and none of them were meaningful. As a result, it dropped his batting average from .267 to .265 and leaving just one game left against the Diamondbacks. Bryant made it count as he would see five plate appearances and get three hits with two doubles and an RBI. Therefore, helping San Francisco to victory and in an up-swing facing the Milwaukee Brewers (66-46) in an essential three-game set.

Bryant didn't slow down against the Brew-Crew. In 13 at-bats, he got four hits (.307), drove in a run, and walked twice. He did suffer two strikeouts but increased his batting average from .265 to .272 in his last four contests.

It hasn't been the best of eight games for Bryant, but he has been a significant piece of the pie. He has added value by playing 3B-LF-CF and is a force to any pitcher facing him. He does need to cut down his strikeouts as five K's in eight contests is too many, but with Bryant, San Francisco has won more games (71-41) 634 percent, and winning is what it's about!

Schedule:

Giants have a nine-game homestand coming up before traveling to face the Athletics.

Tue, August 10 vs. Arizona 6:45pm, Kevin Gausman- scheduled start.

Wed, August 11 vs. Arizona 6:45pm, Alex Wood- scheduled start.

Thu, August 12 vs. Colorado 6:45pm, Logan Webb- scheduled start.

Fri, August 13 vs. Colorado 6:45pm, Aaron Sanchez- scheduled start.

Sat, August 14 vs. Colorado 6:05pm, Johnny Cueto- scheduled start.

Sun, August 15 vs. Colorado 1:05pm, Kevin Gausman- scheduled start.

Mon, August 16 vs. New York Mets 6:45pm, Alex Wood- scheduled start.

Tue, August 17 vs. New York Mets 6:45pm, Logan Webb- scheduled start.

Wed, August 19 vs. New York Mets 12:45pm, Aaron Sanchez- scheduled start.

Transactions:

Per ESPN.

August 8, 2021   Reinstated RHP Kevin Gausman from the paternity list. Recalled RHP John Brebbia from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned SS Thairo Estrada to Sacramento. Designated RHP Aaron Sanchez for assignment.

August 7, 2021   Recalled RHP Zack Littell from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned OF Steven Duggar to Sacramento. Sent LHP Conner Menez outright to Sacramento.

August 5, 2021   Reinstated INF Brandon Belt from the 10-day IL. Placed RHP Kevin Gausman on the paternity list. Sent 3B Evan Longoria to Sacramento (Triple-A West) on a rehab assignment.

August 4, 2021   Reinstated INF Tommy La Stella from the 60-day IL. Placed RHP Anthony DeSclafani on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 3. Designated LHP Conner Menez for assignment.

August 2, 2021   Reinstated OF Jaylin Davis from the 10-day IL and optioned him to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Sent OF Mike Tauchman outright to Sacramento after clearing waivers.

August 1, 2021   Optioned 3B Jason Vosler to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Activated LF Kris Bryant.

San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers SERIES PREVIEW

After a disappointing series in St. Louis, the San Francisco Giants will have every chance to prove they still belong at the top of the National League West standings with a 4 game series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s time to dive into this series and see who the players will be, the matchups, the odds and what to look forward to in this critical series at Dodger Stadium.

The San Francisco Giants had an amazing first half thanks in large part to their offense. They currently have more home runs than any team in the National League and have crushed fastballs all season long. However, they have struggled at cashing in with runners in scoring position, especially recently. The Dodgers lead most offensive categories over San Francisco and have crushed righties this season. They lead the National League in OPS and will not be an easy offense to tame.

The Dodgers may be a bit short on starters with injuries to Dustin May and Clayton Kershaw along with the absence of Trevor Bauer, but they still have solid arms like Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, and David Price to go along with the ace Walker Buehler. However, the Dodgers have been taxing their bullpen a lot with just four starters and are considering promoting top prospect Josiah Gray very soon, possibly for tomorrow’s game. Offensively, the Dodgers are near full-strength although Corey Seager is on the 60-day IL with a hand fracture. They have plenty of depth in the infield though with Gavin Lux and All Star Chris Taylor.

Kevin Gausman

The Giants will be without Buster Posey this series and are still waiting for the returns of infielders Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella and Evan Longoria. However, this team has had an amazing next-man-up mentality and have still maintained a winning culture thanks to key hits by Lamonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores. Healthy and ready to contribute will be All Star Brandon Crawford and second baseman Donovan Solono, whose .309 batting average since 2019 is the 9th best in all of baseball.

Game 1 (7/19/2021):

San Francisco Giants: Kevin Gausman (RHP) 9-3, 1.73 ERA

Los Angeles Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin (RHP) 1-0, 2.13 ERA

Tonight, the San Francisco Giants will be going with the amazing Kevin Gausman, returning from a short absence due to a family emergency. He has been absolutely dominant this season and should be in the Cy Young Award conversation, although Jacob DeGrom is probably the frontrunner. His control has been on point all season long, but his main out pitch - the splitter - has been near untouchable.

The Dodgers faced Gausman on May 30th and were shutout for 6 innings, striking out 7 times and managing just 2 hits. They fared better against Gausman on June 29th when they loaded the bases in the first inning and brought in 2 runs with a big hit by Chris Taylor. Giants-killer Max Muncy also homered against Gausman that day. The Dodgers scored 3 runs with 5 walks and 4 strikeouts. One hitter to worry about is Mookie Betts, who has some ownage on Gausman with a career .351 average in 37 at bats including 3 home runs.

The Giants offense will face Tony Gonsolin, who has been solid this year but walks too many at 5.3 per 9 innings. However, he has been improving and has just walked 2 batters in his last 9 innings. He has struck out 31 batters this season in just 26 innings mostly using a nice splitter of his own and a nasty slider. The Giants haven’t faced him much but when they have, there hasn’t been much success. The current active roster is just 1 for 8 against Gonsolin.

This should be a very intriguing matchup although the obvious advantage has to go to Gausman, who has been one of the best starters in baseball.

Prediction: Giants 5 Dodgers 3

Game 2 (7/20/2021):

San Francisco Giants: Alex Wood (LHP) 8-3, 3.67 ERA

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bullpen Game?

The Giants currently have Alex Wood lined up to start Game 2 and the former Dodger has been one of the best free agent signings of the off-season for San Francisco. He won 8 games in the first half with a 3.67 ERA and the Giants have won 4 of the last 5 games he started. He hasn’t fared too well against his former team this season though, giving up four home runs in 12 innings. However, other than the long ball, he has done well, striking out 15 batters and walking just 2. Keeping the ball in the ballpark will be a big key for Wood in Game 2 of this series.

The Dodgers may go with an opener, which means it could be a bullpen game, with Julio Urias slated to start Wednesday and no one yet announced for Tuesday. There have been major concerns that the Dodgers have been pushing their pen too hard recently, with the bullpen throwing more innings than the starters so far this month. The All Star Break helped but LA had to use 6 relievers in their 10 inning loss to Colorado on Sunday. The Dodgers may decide to start Josiah Gray, who missed most of the season with a shoulder injury, but recently returned and has a 2.87 ERA through three starts with Triple A Oklahoma City this season. The Dodgers ideally would like him to have more time in the minors, but desperate times call for desperate measures and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his big league debut against the Giants on Tuesday.

Josiah Gray

As a Giants fan, I would personally prefer it to be a bullpen game. I could easily see Josiah Gray dominating in his debut and becoming a spark for this Dodgers team trying to catch the Giants and prove that they are the best in the west.

Prediction: Giants 6 Dodgers 5 (If bullpen game), Giants 3 Dodgers 5 (If Gray starts)

Game 3 (07/21/2021):

San Francisco Giants: Logan Webb (RHP) 4-3, 3.53 ERA

Los Angeles Dodgers: Julio Urias (LHP) 12-3, 3.78 ERA

Game 3 will feature young right-hander Logan Webb going for the Giants. Webb had an insanely impressive Spring Training but then struggled to start the regular season. Throughout his last 5 starts, Webb has given up only 3 earned runs, although he missed all of June with a strained shoulder. He came back July 9th and threw 3 outstanding innings against the Nationals, giving up just 1 hit and striking out four. He made another start last Friday against St. Louis throwing 4 innings, giving up a run with just one walk and 2 strikeouts. He should be ready to go at least five assuming he pitches well.

However, the Giants will have to face Julio Urias, who has been very good this season, with 12 wins already. He went 7-1 to start the season with a 3.03 ERA. However, Urias has struggled somewhat lately. He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings against the Rockies last Friday. He has already thrown more innings in a season than he ever has. The Giants had success against him earlier this season with 11 hits and 6 earned runs through 5 innings on May 29th. He did dominate the Marlins on July 8th allowing just 1 run with 7 strong innings, 9 strikeouts and 2 walks. The big question is which Urias will show up? And for that matter, which Webb will show up?

This matchup is very hard to predict, but I am a bit nervous about Webb facing this potent offense and wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers score some runs early. If Urias is shaky like he was against the Rockies, the Giants will have a chance to do the same. But if the Urias we saw during most of the early part of the season shows up, the Giants could be in a for long night. Out of respect for his dominance for the majority of the season, I’ll have to say the Dodgers have the edge in Game 3, but anything can happen in this one.

Prediction: Giants 4 Dodgers 7

Game 4 (07/22/2021):

San Francisco Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (RHP) 10-4, 2.78 ERA

Los Angeles Dodgers: Walker Buehler (RHP) 10-1, 2.37 ERA

Anthony Desclafani

A fitting matchup for the finale are two of the best pitchers in the National League despite the fact that DeSclafani was not selected to the All Star Game. Buehler has given up just 2 runs in his last 13 innings (2 starts) and is 10-1 on the season with a 2.37 ERA. However, the Giants have Anthony DeSclafani, who also has 10 wins with 4 losses and a 2.78 ERA. In his last 7 games, Disco is 5-2 with a 1.74 ERA with wins in his last two starts against the Nationals and Diamondbacks.

The Giants did hit Buehler well earlier this season but it’s still Walker Buehler and the majority of the active roster hasn’t hit him too well with the exception of Steven Duggar, who is 3 for 10 with a homer. The Dodger hitters with success against DeSclafani include Matt Beatty, who is 3 for 3 with a home run, Gavin Lux, who is 3 for 8 with a homer and Will Smith, who is 3 for 5 with a homer. Max Muncy also has 2 home runs off DeSclafani in 11 career at bats, but he simply destroys any one in a Giants uniform.

This very well could be a pitching duel to end out the series. The Dodgers, with a healthy and powerful lineup, will be considered the favorites in most if not all of these games as far as the official betting lines go, but the Giants have been proving those lines wrong all season long. This last game, regardless of what happens in the first three, will be a fun one. I’m predicting the game is decided in the late innings and that the Giants will take advantage of an overworked Dodgers pen and find a way to get the win.

Prediction: Giants 3 Dodgers 2

I believe the Giants are for real and will somehow find a way to win or split this series, but they must at a minimum not get swept, as the Dodgers will be looking to take the lead in the National League West. This is going to be a massive series - I can’t wait! Let’s go Giants!

SF Giants Draft NINE PITCHERS In First 10 Rounds!!!

If you’re like me, you were hoping the Giants go a bit pitcher-heavy to start out this year’s draft. Remembering the homegrown talent from the 10-12-14 Dynasty, I think of Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Jonathan Sanchez and some of the names from our bullpen like Sergio Romo and Brian Wilson - all drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Then, looking at our system today, which has been much improved over the past two years, there seems to be a lack of quality pitching arms as compared to the position players. So, even though teams don’t always draft for need, I was hoping to land some impressive looking arms in this year’s draft.

The Giants went more pitcher-heavy than I could have ever possibly imagined. The first nine picks are all pitchers. This was a complete shock as Farhan Zaidi has tended to avoid pitchers, such as two years ago when he avoided pitchers through the first 8 rounds and last season when the first pick was Patrick Bailey, a catcher - despite the Giants already having Buster Posey and Joey Bart. Obviously, in my mind, he was going to pick the best available player, position be-damned. And maybe he did that - but for whatever reason, nine of the first 10 were pitchers and I absolutely love it.

The picks were:

R1, No. 14: RHP Will Bednar, Mississippi State
R2, No. 50: LHP Matt Mikulski, Fordham
R3, No. 85: RHP Mason Black, Lehigh
R4, No. 115: RHP Eric Silva, JSerra Catholic High School (CA)
R5, No. 146: LHP Rohan Handa, Yale
R6, No. 176: LHP Seth Lonsway, Ohio State
R7, No. 206: RHP Nick Sinacola, Maine
R8, No. 236: RHP Ian Villers, Cal
R9, No. 266: RHP Mat Olsen, Central Arizona Community College
R10, No. 296: OF (RHH) Vaun Brown, Southern Florida

Let’s start with this season’s first round selection, Will Bednar…

Will Bednar (RHP)

Will Bednar, a 6’2”, 229 lb. with a fantastic array of pitches including a fastball that can hit 97, a plus slider and a hard curve. It is the typical toolbox for pitchers these days, but every pitch is above average for him and he pounds the zone with everything, pitching with confidence and intelligence. Scouts love his composure on the mound along with, obviously, his stuff which resulted in 135 strikeouts in just 86.1 innings this season. He also went 8-1, giving his team a chance to win every time he takes the ball. He is durable, strong and smart - and has all the makings of a quality big league arm.

Matt Mikulski (LHP)

With the 50th overall pick, the Giants were able to snag the 50th ranked prospect on MLB.com, lefty Matt Mikulski, who has shot up the prospect boards over the past year. This is a power pitcher with a delivery that has been described as “violent.” Before 2021, scouts worried about his overall mechanics and control, but he cleaned up a lot this season to the tune of a 9-0 record and 1.45 ERA pitching in the NCAA Atlantic 10 Conference. Most impressively, in 68 innings of work, he struck out an insane 124 batters and walked just 27. This is a 22 year old with 4 years of college experience and he could move through the minors quickly. Whether as a starter or reliever, the potential is sky high for this kid and this was an amazing pick for the Giants.

Mason Black (RHP)

Mason Black is another big and powerful pitcher at 6’3” and 235 lbs. His best pitch is the fastball, which has touched triple digits. It is consistently around 94-97 during his starts. He also has an 87 MPH above-average slider that needs more consistency but can be devastating. This season, he struck out 95 hitters in 72 innings at Lehigh, part of the NCAA Patriot League. He has the size and durable to be a starter, but if that doesn’t pan out, he is certainly a candidate to be a solid reliever. All Black needs is a little work on his delivery and the consistency of his secondary pitches, but he has the velocity, arm strength, size and all the ingredients to become a solid big league arm.

Eric Silva (RHP)

In the 4th round, the Giants took their first High School arm in Eric Silva, a right-handed pitcher. He is currently committed to UCLA, but if he decides to sign with the Giants, they’ll have another pitcher with an outstanding fastball in their system. It went from the low 90’s earlier in his High School career to touching 97 this season and scouts are watching to see if it continues to improve. His secondary pitches also miss bats with consistency, including a very solid changeup. His command is a bit questionable at this point, and if he does sign with the Giants, he will be expected to take a big longer to get through the system than the other three picks. However, he already has fantastic stuff - it’s simply a matter of improving his control and mechanics.

Rohan Handa (LHP)

Rohan Handa

The Giants went back to the college ranks in the 5th round for lefty Rohan Handa, a 6’3”, 210 lb lefty who was already a good pitcher early in his college career when his fastball was nothing special at around 85 MPH. He did this with a fantastic slider and an ability to locate and keep batters off balance. So, when he completely revamped his mechanics in an effort to increase his velocity, and that fastball improved to 97 MPH, it’s no surprise that this season, he became nearly unhittable. In five starts, he struck out 25 batters in 17 innings with a .53 ERA. His slider is still excellent with plus spin rate, he locates will and limits walks and, most importantly, he already has a Hall of Fame moustache. Rohan Handa seems to be a great pick with tremendous upside.

Seth Lonsway (LHP)

With the 176th overall pick, the Giants were able to snag the #153 prospect on MLB.com, Seth Lonsway. This was a fairly big name early in his college career, leading Division I Baseball in strikeouts in 2020. He has a fantsatic curveball that rates 65 out of 80 and struck out 17 batters in a game against Indiana at one point. So, why was he picked so low? Unfortunately, he struggles with command and has a deliver that is considered odd. His mechanics tend to go out of whack and he walked 43 batters in 68 innings this year, which is the main culprit in his 4.37 ERA. However, the good news is he controls his curveball fairly well and he also struck out 98 batters in those 68 innings. The Giants are simply betting that he cleans up his mechanics and drastically improves his control. If that happens, Lonsway could end up being a steal. If not, he may not even make it to the Majors.

Nick Sinacola (RHP)

For their 7th round pick, the Giants took righy Nick Sinacola out of Maine, the same school former Giants 20-game winner Bill Swift attended. Sinacola is 6’1”, 190 lbs and has a good fastball that sits in the low to mid 90’s. I’m sure the Giants would love for him to add some velocity once he gets into the system. He was named the American East Pitcher of the Year by striking out 139 in 79 innings with a 2.04 ERA and just 23 walks. Teams and scouts may have been worried about his relatively small size, but he can throw strikes, shows great composure on the mound, and although he doesn’t hit triple digits, his fastball has movement and misses bats. Considering that the Giants snagged him in the 7th round, I’d say this was a fantastic pick to add yet another quality arm in the system who dominated hitters at the college level.

Ian Villers (RHP)

In the 8th round the Giants went local by taking Cal product Ian Villers from Walnut Creek, California. Villers can be an intimidating sight out of the bullpen at 6’6” and 245 lbs. He was used by Cal as not only a reliever but also an opener and led the team with 29 appearances this year. He got off to a slow start, but owned a 1.27 ERA & 4-0 record in his final 19 appearances of the season from April 9-May 29. His fastball usually sits in the mid 90’s but can hit 98 when he reaches back. He throws a pair of breaking balls in slider/cutter that has tight, short action and curveball that he throws with good depth. He’s also working on a spit-change in the high 70s. He struggles with command at times, but is overall fairly seasoned and consistent. Projected as a bullpen arm, Villers could move through the system quickly, assuming he signs, and become a scary sight to see for opposing hitters.

Mat Olsen (RHP)

Right-hander Mat Olsen from Central Arizona Community College was taken in the 9th round. He is just 5’11 and 180 lbs, but his strikeout numbers are impressive, even for JC ball. In 2019, he struck out 194 in 125 and maintained an ERA of 2.09. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 Draft but didn’t sign. He’s got a fastball around 92-93 and all the typical secondary pitches including a quality changeup. Some of his states reported for this year include 133 strikeouts in just 88 innings with 30 walks and a 2.13 ERA. He is committed to Arizona State for his Senior Year, but the Giants took a chance on him going pro and based on his stats and scouting reports, it’s a decent gamble.

Vaun Brown (OF)

Finally, for the last pick of the second day of the draft, the Giants took Vaun Brown, an outfielder. Position players need love too. Brown is 6’1, 190 lbs and made massive improvements this season, bringing his batting average from the mid to high 200’s in previous seasons to .387 with a .462 on-base and an incredible 1.254 OPS. He hit 13 bombs in just 111 at bats and is also a quality fielder. Brown started 34 of his 37 games played, including 22 games in right field and 11 games in center. The Giants did well to find some one off the radar who only recently came into some impressive power and hitting skills who they could nab in the 10th round. He doesn’t steal a lot of bases or have the greatest arm ever, but with his power potential, the question will be if it was a short-term hot streak or if this kid can really develop a bat that will be useful at the big league level.