Exhibition Game Wrap 3/23/2026: Giants 10 Sultanes 2

 The Giants lineup hit 3 home runs to back a bullpen game by the pitching staff in a runaway win againte the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican League.  Key Lines:

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 3, HR, BB, R, RBI.  Hopefully Adames starts this season a little more relaxed than last year when he was coming off signing his big contract.

Casey Schmitt 1B- 2 for 3, R.  Schmitt started at 1B with Devers at DH.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 1 for 1, HR, R, 3 RBI.  Eldridge's stay in AAA may be short.

Jared Oliva CF- 2 for 3, R, RBI.  Harrison Bader is expected to start in CF on Opening Day but Oliva is making a case for a roster spot as a reserve OF.

Tyler Fitzgerald 2B/SS- 1 for 1, HR, R, 2 RBI.  Seems like Christian Koss is ahead of Fitz on the depth chart but Fitz made the most of this opportunity.

Pitchers- 9 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K's.  Carson Seymour gave up both runs.  Remarkably, the collective pitching gave up no walks.  

Giants and Sultanes play one more exhibition tonight before Opening Day on Wednesday.

Exhibition Game Wrap 3/22/2026: River Cats 2 Giants 1

 

The good news is Bryce Eldridge was the star of the game.  The bad news is he played for the River Cats.  Key Lines:

Jerar Encarnacion 1B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  It seems like Encarnacion made the team.

Bryce Eldridge 1B(River Cats)- 2 for 3, 2B, HR.  It would seem Eldridge won't stay in AAA long.

Nate Furman DH(River Cats):  1 for 3, HR.  Furman had a good spring.  Does this mean he is on the AAA roster?

Tyler Mahle RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  Final tune up before the regular season.  Eldridge's HR in the 4'th inning the only damage.ge

John Michael Bertrand LHP(River Cats)- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, 6/3 GO/AO.  Not the Giants starting lineup but he faced good hitters.  

J. T. Brubaker RHP and Keaton Winn RHP pitched scoreless innings for the Giants.  Wilkin Ramos RHP pitched 2 scoreless frames for the River Cats.  Jose Butto RHP gave up Furman's game-winning HR.

The Giants play the Monterrey Sultanes from the Mexican League in Oracle Park tonight.  Game is on NBCSBA

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/21/2026: Giants 10 Guardians 7

 

The Giants lineup outscored the Guardians on the final day of Cactus League competition of the spring.  Key Lines:

Jung Hoo Lee 2 for 3, HR(1), 2 R, RBI.  BA= .455.  Lee seemed to figure out his path to major league stardom after the All-Star break last season.  He's had a big spring.  Interesting he batted leadoff in this Cactus League finale which is where I think he should bat on Opening Day.

Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 3, 2B, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .405.  This was Chapman's 7'th double of the spring.  He consistently drover the ball into the gaps all spring.

Rafael Devers DH- 3 for 4, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .172.  Is Devers bat heating up just in time for the season to start?

Will Brennan LF- 1 for 1, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .325.  If the Giants want a lefty bench bat on the roster, it appears Brennan won the spring competition over Drew Gilbert.  

Patrick Bailey C- 2 for 3, R.  BA= .286.  Bailey has had a fine spring.  If he can just hit somewhere in the mid-.200's WAR should skyrocket.  

Jared Oliva CF- 2 for 3, HR(2), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .375.  Oliva is getting a long look.  His game-changing speed and CF D could just win him a roster spot which complicates things for Luis Matos who is out of options.  Can Tony Vitello live with an all right-handed bench?

Robbie Ray LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 1.37.  Ray is another year removed from an extended absence for elbow surgery and he's pitching for a contract.  He looks ready to start the season.

Joey Lucchesi LHP(3.00) and Erik Miller LHP(0.00) pitched scoreless innings.  Matt Gage LHP had a strong spring.  Their situation suddenly became a lot less certain with the signing of Ryan Borucki LHP to a major league contract.  Miller is the only member of that quartet with options.

The Giants break camp and head north and west to Sacramento where Tyler Mahle RHP will get his final tune-up start before the season against the Giants AAA squad.

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/20/2026: Rangers 6 Giants 5

The Rangers erupted for 6 runs in the 8'th inning to nip the Giants in the road half of a split-squad doubleheader.  Key Lines:

Drew Gilbert CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .281.  Gilbert is making a late push to make the team.

Will Brennan LF- 1 for 4, HR(1), R, RBI.  BA= .308.  If carrying a lefty-hitting reserve OF is a priority, it comes down to Gilbert vs Brennan.  Brennan has had the stronger spring overall.

Jesus Rodriguez C- 1 for 3, HR(2), BB, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .351.  What a promising young hitter!  Needs more experience behind the plate.

Charlie Szykowny 1B- 3 for 3, HR(1), BB, 2 R, RBI.  BA= 1.000.  Szykowny had a breakout season last year in A+ ball.  AA will be the big test this year.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.48.  Versatile reliever who will almost certainly make the team.

Caleb Kilian RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.96.   Kilian should make the team.  He has a high 90's FB he throws out of a short-arm delivery making it difficult for batters to time.

Matt Gage LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.84.  Gage and Erik Miller will likely be the lefties out of the pen.  Will Joey Lucchesi start the season in AAA due to the late signing?

Michael Fulmer RHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.35.  Fulmer started the spring hot but never gained velocity and struggled over his last several appearances.  

Robbie Ray LHP makes his 6'th spring start today against the Guardians in the Cactus League finale in Scottsdale.  

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/20/2026: Giants 5 Royals 2

In the home half of a split-squad doubleheader, Adrian Houser had a Quality Start and Matt Chapman led the lineup with a 2-run blast in the third inning.  Key Lines:

Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 2, HR(3), BB, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .412.  Chapman stayed hot all spring.  Can he keep it going in the regular season?

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 3, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .122.  Adames started the spring ice cold but warmed up a bit lately.  Let's hope he starts the season relaxed and not feeling like he has to win every game all by himself.  

Jung Hoo Lee RF- 2 for 3, RBI.  BA= .421.  Another guy who needs to stay within himself once the season starts.

Jared Oliva PF/CF- 0 for 0, BB, SB(14).  BA= .351.  Game-changing speed.

Casey Schmitt 1B/2B- 0 for 1, 2 BB, R.  BA= .304.  Remember when Casey Schmitt was allergic to walks?  His OBP is .385 this spring although these two walks are a big part of that. 

Adrian Houser RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K's, 8/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.46.  Giants don't need anything fancy from Houser.  Quality Starts will get the job done.

Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 4/0 GO/AO.  ERA= 2.92.  Although wildly different styles of pitching, Seymour's results are similar to Tyler Rogers.  Can he fill a similar role in the bullpen?

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(1).  ERA= 0.00.  Walker came into the spring as the presumptive Closer.  He has not done anything to lose the role.  We'll see if last season's struggles are behind him.

Robbie Ray LHP makes his 6'th start of the spring in tomorrow's Cactus League finale against the Guardians in Scottsdale.

Spring Breakout Game Wrap 3/19/2026: Reds 10 Giants 1

 

All I am going to say about this game is more of the Reds prospects, including their starting pitcher, were significantly older and more advanced in their development than the players the Giants fielded.  As Joe Ritzo noted on the TV broadcast, Keyner Martinez RHP probably had the most impressive game for the Giants.  After allowing 2 runs on 3 hits to the first 3 batters, he settled down and recorded 6 consecutive groundball outs between two K's.   

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/19/2026: Giants 14 Rockies 11

 

Logan Webb had a major letdown coming off the intensity of the WBC but the lineup picked him up and the Giants took a high-scoring game from the Rockies on the road.  Key Lines:

Drew Gilbert DH- 3 for 5, 3B, BB, 2 R.  BA= .259.  Gilbert got a late start due to injury but stated his case today.  Is it too little, too late?

Jared Oliva CF- 2 for 5, 2 2B, SB(13), 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .351.  Oliva has shown he is capable of winning a game with his speed alone.  No other player in camp or in recent memory could claim that.  And what is the old saying?  Speed never slumps?  He is also a strong defender in CF.  The rest may not matter but he also hit well.  

Daniel Susac C- 2 for 3, HR(2), 2 R, RBI.  BA= .333.  Susac is here as a Rule 5 Draft pick.  If he doesn't make the team he must be either traded or offered back to the A's.  He came to camp hitting the ball hard and never let up.  It's very hard to imagine they would let him go after the spring he had and after trading for his rights.

Eric Haase C- 1 for 1, BB, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .286.  Haase has had a good spring too.  He has an opt-out.  Is there a way for the Giants to keep both him and Susac?

Victor Bericoto 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .474.  Bericoto was the best hitter in camp, wire-to-wire.

Jerar Encarnacion 1B- 2 for 2, 2B, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .319.  Encarnacion is out of options.  With the way he came on late I doubt the Giants want to lose him to waivers.  With Eldridge's option, Jerar may have won himself a roster spot as a DH and Reserve OF/1B.  

Luis Matos RF- 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .283.  Matos says "Hey!  Don't forget about me!"

Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 5, RBI.  BA= .311.  Schmitt had a strong spring.  

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 5, HR(1), 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .417.  Koss may be on the bubble simply because of the numbers game but he has certainly done everything any player could do to make the team. FWIW, he is probably a little better defensive SS than Casey Schmitt.  One problem for the Giants is all the players who appear to be in line for reserve roles on the position side bat right handed.  

Logan Webb RHP- 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, 8/1 GO/AO.  We'll chalk this one up to a letdown coming off the WBC in which Webb performed very well.

J. T. Brubaker RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.45.  Brubaker appears to have won himself a swingman/long reliever role.  

Juan Sanchez LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.  Sanchez had a perfect spring but with Erik Miller apparently healthy again and Joey Lucchesi LHP signed late, is there room in the bullpen for him?

While we talked about the Cactus League in the past tense there are 3 more games to go, a split squad tomorrow and a game on Saturday.  Adrian Houser RHP starts the home game against the Royals and Spencer Bivens RHP gets the ball for the road game against the Rangers tomorrow.

As we mentioned, Bryce Eldridge was optioned to the minors.  Theoretically he could be called back for Opening Day but it would appear he will start the season in AAA to work on strike zone management.