Game Wrap 8/19/2026: Giants 1 Guardians 0

Excellent team pitching and a hustling double by Rafael Devers led to a narrow win for the Giants.  Key Lines:

Rafael Devers DH- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .244.  I've been as critical of Devers as anyone this season but credit where it's due.  Ever since the finger-wagging incident, he cleaned up his game, mostly hustled and actually looked like he's having fun out there.  His 4'th inning double was a deep liner to CF but one that looked like a long single but Devers busted it out of the box and when it briefly got away from the fielder, he stretched it into a double and scored the Giants only run on a single by Victor Bericoto LF.

Willy Adames SS- 3 for 4.  BA= .229.  Adames was back in the lineup for the first time in week.  He looked much better at the plate but had a ball kick off his glove straight up in the air for his 17'th error which put runners on first and second with 2 outs in the 7'th inning.  As a fan watching, you couldn't help but think "uh-oh, here we go", but Adrian Houser got the final out of the inning on a pop up to preserve the shutout.  

Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson LHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.  The Giants braintrust decided to make Wilkinson's MLB debut a lefty opener assignment with Adrian Houser doing the bulk-innings.  Hey!  It worked!  Wilkinson's FB topped out at 91 MPH but he delivers it at a similar angle as another lefty named Kyle Harrison and induced 2 flyouts and 3 pop ups against a single ground out in 2 innings of work.  

Adrian Houser RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's, 6/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.08.  Since moving to the bullpen on June 26, Houser has the second best ERA in MLB(40 IP min.).  He did make one start on August 12 and pitched 6 shutout innings, but the Giants have brought him in after on Opener several times with success.  This one made sense because of the 7 batters Wilkinson faced, 4 batted left and 3 were switch-hitters.  The first batter Houser faced batted R.  So, Houser seems to have put himself in position to be either a SP or bulk-innings man next season. Either way, he fills 1/5 of a pitching rotation.  

Dylan Smith RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's, Save(3).  ERA= 2.73.  Smith entered the game in the 8'th inning after Houser allowed a leadoff walk to Steven Kwan and promptly threw a wild pitch, but then struck out the side with a riding 96 MPH FB that Guardians batters swung under and an occasional split or sweeper.  Dave Flemming mentioned that the FB velocity dipped by a tick or two to the last two batters of the 9'th but Smith struck both of them out for a very nice 2-out Save.  Is he now the presumptive Closer for next season?

Landen Roupp tries to get his season back on track in a day start today facing Gavin Williams RHP who comes in with a 3.74 ERA.  And I'll just say the Giants don't need an ace starter for next season, but they do need at least two pitchers like Gavin Williams.

Down on the Farm: 8/18/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 9-5.

Marcello Mayer 2B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .353.

Bo Davidson LF- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .295.

Shay Whitcomb SS- 2 for 4, SF.  BA= .276.

Will Brennan 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(5), 2 BB.  BA= .313.

Nate Furman DH- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .289.

Adrian Sugastey C- 3 for 5.  BA= .311.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.73.

Braxton Roxby RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.42.

Eric Cerantola RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.59.

If Bo Davidson is as advertised and what he appears to be, he should be finishing his development in a Giants uniform no later than early next season.

AA:  Chesapeake Baysox downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-2.

Trevor Cohen CF- 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB(13).  BA= .303.

Charlie Szykowny 1B- 1 for 3, HR(13), BB.  BA= .251.

Jack Choate LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.27.

A+:  Vancouver Canadians doubled up the Eugene Emeralds 10-5.

Cam Maldonado RF- 2 for 4, HR(4), BB, SB(2).  BA= .281.

Liam Simon RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.63.

Cam Maldonado is doing about the same in A+ as he was with the A SJ Giants.

A:  San Jose Giants quieted the Lake Elsinore Storm 9-2. 

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 2 for 5, SB(4).  BA= .343.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 1 for 5, HR(16).  BA= .243.

Tanner Mally RF- 1 for 3, HBP, SB(2).  BA= .389.

Andy Polanco CF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .286.

Broedy Poppell LF- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .224.

Trey Seeley LHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 7.49.

Cooper McGrath RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 6.52.

Andy Polanco is an interesting prospect.  He is not close to being ready to play in the major leagues but there is something there with the speed and long levers if he can get a little stronger and get his arms in enough to get around on inside fastballs.  Can a player look athletic and uncoordinated at the same time?

DSL:  Blue Jays Blue beat Giants Oranges 8-5(7 innnings).

Israel Alphonse SS(17 yo)- 1 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .321.

Jeyson Moya DH(19 yo)- 4 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .232.

Jose Trevizo RHP(18 yo)- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.52.

DSL:  Giants Black outscored the Mariners 11-5.

Alexander Camacaro 2B(18 yo)- 1 for 2, 3 BB.  BA= .290.

Franco Willias LF(21 yo)- 3 for 4, 2B, 3B, Sac.  BA= .406.

Keiberg Camacaro DH(19 yo)- 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SF.  BA= .333.

Game Wrap 8/18/2026: Guardians 8 Giants 1

Carson Whisenhunt was lit up for a huge 3-run home run by Jo Adell in the first inning and the game was basically over at that point except for the pummeling.  Key Lines:

Jonah Cox CF- 2 for 4.  BA= .286.  Cox is back up and continues to get on base and show range in CF.  He did get picked off and CS to negate the two hits.  Hopefully the coaches can give him some pointers on reading MLB pitchers, especially LHP's.  

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 4, HR(14), R, RBI.  BA= .250.  Eldridge drove in the Giants only run with a home run of his own in the 2'nd inning, off a LHP to boot.  Everything about him reminds me so much of Brandon Belt, I sometimes have to double-check myself to make sure it's not Belt out there.  I already see an ability to handle inside pitches that I never saw in Belt so I am optimistic Bryce will end up as a much better hitter.  

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 4 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 3/5 GO/AO.  ERA= 7.03.  I don't know if he was tipping pitches but he was not fooling the Guardians batters, especially Jo Adell who torched him for 3 hits and 6 RBI's.  The first 3 batters in the Guardians lineup all reached base 3 times.  Right now The Whiz is not looking like a pitcher to count on for next season.  

Trent Harris RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 7.71.  After giving up 4 runs in his first 1.2 IP, Harris combined line for his last 2 games is 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K's.  

Reiver Sanmartin LHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 7.45.  Sanmartin allowed the first 3 batters he faced to reach base.  He settled down after that and should have been out of the 7'th inning but Bryce Eldridge inexplicably dropped a relay throw from Osleivis Basabe that was off the ground.  Sanmartin has a nice pitch mix which looks more like a starter's mix than a relievers to my eye.

Note that all three Giants pitchers who appeared in the game finished the day with ERA's over 7.

Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson LHP brings his soft-tossing, "invisiball" for a major league tryout tonight facing Parker Messick LHP who comes in with a 2.59 ERA.  And that sure seems like a lot of quotation marks in The Tugboat's game.  

Down on the Farm: 8/17/2026

Full season leagues were all idle as usual on Mondays.

DSL:  Giants Orange topped Cubs Red 4-3(8 innings).

Fernando Pena 1B- 2 for 4.  BA= .333.

Yoxander Benitez 2B- 2 for 3.  BA= .283.

Jhon Leon RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.98.

 

DSL:  Giants Black smashed the Nationals 12-2.

Franco Willias LF- 2 for 3, BB, 2 SB(34).  BA= .398.

Joniel Hernandez SS- 2 for 5, HR(7).  BA= .321.

Djean Macares CF- 1 for 4, BB, 2 SB(26).  

The exciting news here is Joniel Hernandez hits his second HR in as many days.  He is the 17 yo shortstop prospect who came over from the Padres in the Robbie Ray trade.  I think it's is possible Hernandez ends up being the best return out of the Giants 2026 trade deadline deals.

Down on the Farm: 8/16/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats outscored the Las Vegas Aviators 15-11.

Scott Bandura RF- 4 for 5, 2 2B, BB, SB(17).  BA= .309.

Shay Whitcomb DH- 2 for 5, BB.  BA= .273.

Bo Davidson LF- 4 for 5, 2 2B, 2 HR(6), BB.  BA= .287.

Nate Furman 2B- 2 for 4, 2 BB.  BA= .286.

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 5.  BA= .286.

Joe Whitman LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K's, 4/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 5.09.

This was one of those pad the stat line games but yes, lots to be excited about with Bo Davidson.  Joe Whitman appears to be back in the rotation.  BTW, did you all hear about Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez hitting 3 homers in his first MLB game after hitting 34 in AAA?  Maybe Bo Davidson is our Joshua Baez?  Shay Whitcomb was claimed off waivers from the Astros so he's on the Giants 40-man roster.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels at Harrisburg Senators cancelled due to rain.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Hillsboro Hops 5-3.

Jhonny Level SS- 1 for 3, BB, 2 SB(8).  BA= .300.

Cam Maldonado RF- 1 for 4, HR(3), SB(1).  BA= .241.

Daniel Rogers C- 1 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .232.

Jhonny Level has done impressively well in an aggressive promotion to A+.  Will he start next season in AA?

A:  San Jose Giants outlasted the Fresno Grizzlies 10-9(11 innings).

Josuar Gonzalez 2B- 3 for 6, 2B, 3B, BB.  BA= .339.

Lorenzo Meola 3B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .262.

Fernando Gonzalez C- 1 for 3, 3 BB.  BA= .258.

Tanner Mally RF- 2 for 5, BB.  BA= .394.

Andy Polanco CF- 3 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .284.

Oliver Tejada DH- 2 for 5, BB.  BA= .185.

Josuar Gonzalez is another prospect to be so excited about.  He should start next season in A+ at age 19.  I can easily see him making his MLB debut by age 20. Tanner Mally is the same singles machine he was in college.

DSL was idle on Sunday.

Game Wrap 8/16/2026: Rockies 13 Giants 7

The Giants managed to keep pace in a hit fest until the 6'th inning when another bullpen collapse gave the Rockies 7 runs in next two innings and a runaway loss.  Key Lines:

Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 5, 2B(30), HR(25), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .246.  Devers hit one into water that was just foul in the second inning then straightened it out and found the water again 2 pitches later for a splash hit home run, the 110'th in history.  Drew Gilbert scored on the home run.  Here are some splits on Devers who has been quite consistent:

Last 7 games:  .231/.333/462, HR.

Last 15 games:  .226/.328/.453, 3 HR.

Last 30 games:  .220/.317/.431, 6 HR.

May:  .306/.356/.593, 5 HR.

June:  .214/.313/.520, 8 HR.

July:  .267/.370/.533, 7 HR.

August:  .235/.328/.471, 3 HR.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 1 for 3, 2 BB, R, RBI.  BA= .247.  Eldridge drove in the Giants first run with soft single to CF.  

Drew Cavanaugh C- 2 for 5.  BA= .250.  Cavanaugh has been swinging at pitches in the zone and taking pitches out of the zone.  In other words, he makes good swing decisions.  He lost a ball in the dirt allowing a run in the pivotal 6'th inning.  The next 4 batters went walk, walk, HBP single(misplay).  

Turner Hill CF- 1 for 3, BB, R, RBI.  BA= .167.  Hill gets his first MLB hit and RBI but misplayed a ball in CF to contribute to the "sloppy" play in the 6'th.

Blade Tidwell RHP- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.33.  I caught the Tony Vitello Show on KNBR while driving down the 5.  He said this game was an opportunity for Tidwell to sustain and build on his success and to show he can handle a lineup stacked with lefthanded batters. Welp!   That didn't go well!  He walked 5 batters and gave up a home run to the 9'th hitter, a guy with a .180 career BA and just 1 prior home run in 149 AB.

Bullpen- 4 relievers gave up runs including 3 who gave up 2 runs each.  I think it's safe to say a full bullpen rebuild is Buster's top priority this offseason.

The Giants get a travel day before starting a series against the Guardians in Cleveland with Carson Whisenhunt LHP facing Foster Griffin LHP who comes in with a record of 13-4 and an ERA of 3.25.

Blogger's Note

 Hey team!  I am taking off in the morning on a roadie up to Ukiah to visit a couple of friends.  I will be back posting Monday evening or Tuesday AM next week.  I will try to post comments entered before about 8:30 AM but comments entered after that will not get posted until after I get back.  Thanks for understanding.