Down on the Farm: 9/8/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats destroyed the Las Vegas Aviators 11-1.

Scott Bandura CF- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(10), SF, SB(24).  BA= .322.

Bo Davidson LF- 4 for 5, 2B, 3B.  BA= .303.

Will Brennan RF- 3 for 5, 3 HR(10).  BA= .309.

Eddys Leonard DH- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .194.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 3 for 5.  BA= .249.

Fernando Gonzalez C- 1 for 3, 3B, 2 BB.  BA= .214.

Joe Whitman LHP- 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, 7/4 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.82.

Ryan Walker RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.82.

Look at Scott Bandura filling up the ol' stat line!  Can't wait to see Bo Davidson step up to the plate in Oracle Park.  Joe Whitman has 4 Quality starts in a row with a 1.67 ERA in 27 IP in that span.

AA:  Chesapeake Baysox downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 11-3.

Tyler Vogel RHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.31.

A+:  Vancouver Canadians edged out the Eugene Emeralds 8-7(Game 1 of NWL Championship Series).

Cam Maldonado RF- 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB. 

Kaeden Kent 2B- 4 for 5.

Isaiah Barkett 3B- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB.

Charlie Muniz C- 2 for 4, 2B. 

Henry Lalane LHP- 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 2 K's. 

Lalane allowed just 1 run over his first 4 innings of work then lost control of the strike zone walking the bases loaded while recording 2 outs.  Nate Nabholz RHP then gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced.  

A:  San Jose Giants doubled up the Stockton Ports 10-5(Game 1 of Divisional Playoff).

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 2 for 4, BB, SB.  

Lorenzo Meola 2B- 2 for 4, HR, BB. 

Drew Smith DH- 2 for 5, HR

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 4.

Andy Polanco CF- 3 for 4, 2 HR, SB.

Argenis Cayama RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  

Eric Nachtsheim RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  

Huge game for Andy Polanco!  A season of mixed results for Argenis Cayama.  Hopefully a growing experience for the 19 yo.  Nice second pro appearance by Eric Nachtsheim who was the Giants 6'th round draft pick this year.

Game Wrap 9/8/2026: Giants 2 Cardinals 1

Solo home runs by Bryce Eldridge and Christian Koss backed 6 innings of shutout work by Landen Roupp and the bullpen held on for the win.  Key Lines:   

Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 3, HR(16), BB, R, RBI.  BA= .265.  Facing a LHP, Eldridge flicked his bat at a high-outside fastball, barreled it up and sent it several rows up in the LF stands.  Instead of highlighting his 15-game split which is goosed by the 4-hit game on 8/29, here are two other splits showing his consistency since the first of August:

August:  .297/.366/.462.  

September(8 games):  .296/.432/.556.  

He also went .300/.394/.489 in June but slumped to .207 in July.

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 3, HR(4), R, RBI.  BA= .219.  Koss hits his third HR in 4 games.  He is batting .321/.367/.643 in September.  Although he is causing some anxiety with a tendency to skip throws to 1B, he is making the plays.  Rich Aurilia commented on the postgame show that much like last season, Christian is settling in and playing better as he gets consistent playing time.

Landen Roupp RHP- 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K's, 11/4 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.00.  It wasn't too long ago some of us said Roupp looked done for the season.  He has allowed just 2 runs in 16 IP over his last 3 starts.  

Joel Kuhnel RHP- 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K, Save(7).  ERA= 4.74.  Kuhnel got out of an 8'th inning jam created by Carson Seymour's 2 walks and got the first two outs of the 9'th, but then gave up two singles, a run and a SB causing some torture before retiring Ivan Herrera on a ground out to Christian Koss.  I will say, Kuhnel did show something other Giants Closers have not this season:  The ability to reach back and blow a 98 MPH fastball in the middle of the strike zone past a hitter who is expecting it.

Blade Tidwell RHP goes for a series sweep today facing Andre Pallante RHP who comes in with an ERA of 3.51.

Game Wrap 9/7/2026: Giants 5 Cardinals 4(11 innings)

Logan Webb had a bounceback start, almost got Webbed but the Giants persevered to win in extra-innings.  Key Lines:

Turner Hill LF- 0 for 4, BB, 2 R.  BA= .286.  What's going on in the instant replay booth?  Hill was call out and the call was confirmed on instant replay after the Cardinals first baseman's foot clearly came off the bag before the ball hit his glove.  This the game after he was clearly hit on the hand by a pitch that was called a foul ball.  Is an anti-rookie bias alive and well in the replay booth?  

Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 BB, R, RBI.  BA= .260.  Devers double in the first inning would have been a home run in all 29 other ballparks.  

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, SF, 3 RBI.  BA= .265.  Eldridge drove in the tying run in the 10'th inning to keep the Giants alive to fight another inning.  Fun fact:  He has two separate 15-game on-base streaks, the first Giants rookie to do that since Orlando Cepeda.  

Shay Whitcomb 3B- 2 for 5, RBI.  BA= .152.  Whitcomb's high chopper infield hit drove in the game-winning, walk-off run in the 11'th inning.  

Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K's, 7/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.10.  Webb looked like his normal self in his first start after the worst of his career.  Sigh of relief!

Landen Roupp RHP tries for a series win tonight facing Quinn Mathews LHP who comes in with a ERA of 4.38.

Down on the Farm: 9/6/2026

 AAA:  Salt Lake City Bees defeated the Sacramento River Cats 6-3.

Scott Bandura CF- 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .318.

Parks Harber 3B- 2 for 5.  BA= .260.

Darren Baker 2B- 2 for 4, SB(2).  BA= .400.

Nick Zwack LHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.35.

AA:  Akron Rubber Ducks outscored the Richmond Flying Squirrels 14-6.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .302.

Dakota Jordan RF- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .270.

Jancel Villaroel C- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .208.

Marty Gair RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 18.00.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops topped the Eugene Emeralds 7-6.

Jhonny Level SS- 2 for 5, BB, SB(15).  BA= .302.

Cam Maldonado RF/CF- 0 for 4, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .284.

Charlie Muniz C- 1 for 4, HR(1), BB.  BA= .067.

Daniel Rogers DH- 2 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .233.

Luis De La Torre LHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.81.

Cole Hillier RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.98.

Gerelmi Maldonado RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.90.

Charlie Muniz was signed as a UDFA out of the Pioneer League on September 1.  This game marks the end of the NWL regular season.  The Emeralds take on the Vancouver Canadians in a 5-game championship series starting Tuesday Sept 8.

A: San Jose Giants beat the Fresno Grizzlies 5-3.

Lorenzo Meola SS- 2 for 4, HR(15), HBP, SB(17).  BA= .269.

Luke Nixon 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .213.

Dario Reynoso DH- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .274.

Drew Smith 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .333.

Leandro Rodriguez LHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.34.

Evan Gray RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.36.

Fernando Vasquez RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.95.

Samir Chires RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's, Save(3).  ERA= 1.82.

This game marks the end of the California League Regular Season.  The SJ Giants start the 3-game Northern Division Series against the Stockton Ports on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Game Wrap 9/6/2026: Mets 4 Giants 2

The Giants played a pretty good game for 7.5 innings when another bullpen failure ruined an excellent start by Cesar Perdomo.  Key Lines:

The Giants lineup managed just 5 hits, all singles.  They bunched 3 together with 2 outs in the 4'th inning for their 2 runs.  Bryce Eldridge started it with a line drive single to RF.  Jonah Cox poked one past the first baseman into a "no-man's land" behind first base and alertly took 2B when the throw went to 3B trying to get Eldridge.  Jung Hoo Lee followed with a bloop single to drive in the Eldridge and Cox.  

Cesar Perdomo LHP- 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, 7/3 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.90.  Perdomo's command was a little shaky in the first 2 innings but got better as the game went on.  Javier Lopez pointed out that his slider was staying up in the zone but he pivoted to his changeup as his main secondary pitch and it was effective in keeping the Mets batters off balance.  

Carson Seymour RHP- 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HR.  ERA= 5.79.  I've been a big in advocate for Seymour as anyone.  He's big, tall, throws hard and gets elite ground ball rates.  He also gives up a lot of home runs.  Is he running out of time to find traction on his MLB career? someone on Bluesky posted that this was the 8'th time this season the Giants have lost after leading in the 8'th inning.  

The Giants start a homestand tomorrow evening against the Cardinals with Logan Webb RHP facing Michael McGreevy RHP who comes in with a ERA of 3.97.

Down on the Farm: 9/5/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats tamed the Salt Lake City Bees 6-3.

Scott Bandura CF- 1 for 5, HR(9).  BA= .318.  

Brett Harris 3B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .336.

Bo Davidson LF- 2 for 4, HR(9).  BA= .290.

Charlie Szykowny 1B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .300.

Thomas Gavello C- 1 for 3, HR(8).  BA= .185.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.92.

R. J. Dabovich RHP- 1 IP, 0 R, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Philip Abner LHP- 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.54.

Eric Cerantola RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(5).  ERA= 4.15.

AA: Akron Rubber Ducks shut down the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-0.

Lisbel Diaz RF- 2 for 4, SB(7).  BA= .203.

Jancel Villaroel C- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .206.

Jean Carlos Sio LF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .229.

Shane Rademacher RHP- 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.15.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Hillsboro Hops 5-4.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 2 for 4.  BA= .258.

Dalton Wentz 3B- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .265.

Mauricio Estrella RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.76.

Ryan Slater RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 3.66.

Nate Nabholz RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(1).  ERA= 2.41.

A:  San Jose Giants edged out the Fresno Grizzlies 4-3.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 3, HR(3), BB.  BA= .357.

Luke Nixon 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .186.

Keyner Martinez RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.61.

Ian Korn RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.75.

Sorry for the paucity of comments here.  We're getting down to the end of a long season for the prospects.  Not much left to say that hasn't been said.  The Giants have set themselves up for a huge problem with the 40-man roster and Rule 5 Draft this offseason.  Counting players on the 60-day IL, they have 54 players on the 40-man roster.  The 15 players on the 60-day IL will have to be activated and the total has to come down to 40 which means 14 player currently on the 40-man roster must be DFA'd when the 40-man roster is set in November.  This all doesn't count players like Bo Davidson and Scott Bandura who must be added to avoid losing them in the I will write a separate post soon after the season is over detailing which players are at risk for DFA.  Just eyeballing it now, there will be some painful decisions.

Game Wrap 9/5/2026: Giants 9 Mets 5

The Giants looked at the 5 home runs the Mets hit last night and said, "Oh!  That's how you win games!", and went out and hit 6 home runs today.  And just like that, they won the game!  Key Lines:

Rafael Devers 1B- 2 for 4, 2 HR(35), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .258.  Devers continues on his insane heater that's seen him hit 6 HR's in his last 6 games.  He could go cold at any time but right now, 40 HR on the season is looking very doable.

Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 3, 2B, BB, R.  BA= .262.  Eldridge is still getting mileage out of his 4-hit game but he's batting .385 over his last 7 games.  The 4-hit game will drop off his 7-day split after tomorrow's game.

Osleivis Basabe 2B- 1 for 4, HR(5), R, 2 RBI.  BA= .216.  Basabe's 5 HR's are in 111 PA's which projects to 27 in 600 PA's.  

Grant McCray RF- 2 for 4, HR(2), 2 R, RBI.  BA= .143.  McCray got in on the HR action with an add-on blast in the 9'th inning.  Good thing because this game would have gotten too close for comfort without it.

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 4, 2 HR(3), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .211.  Koss showed off his power in this one.  He is batting .316 in 5 games in September.  His 3 HR's have come in his last 15 games.  

Anthony Molina RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's, 7/0 GO/AO.  ERA= 2.79.  Molina is stating his case to be part of next year's rotation.  His 4-pitch mix was anchored by a 97 MPH fastball with effective curve, slider and changeup.  Right now he's looking like a talented kid who had the misfortune of pitching in the Rockies organization.  

Trent Harris RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.21.  Harris is stating his case to be part of next year's bullpen.  Dave Flemming keeps making the point that his release point is the most over-the-top in the major leagues.  

The umpires War on Tony Vitello continued as he was ejected for the 3'rd time in 10 games.  This one came after Turner Hill appeared to be hit on the hand by a pitch.  The call at the plate was it hit his bat.  The call stood on replay.  I think Vitello was right about the pitch hitting Hill's hand, but you can't argue a replay call, so.......

Luis Perdomo LHP tries for a series win tomorrow in a 10:40 AM PDT game facing Christian Scott RHP who comes in with a ERA of 3.80.