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.

Down on the Farm: 8/11/2026

 AAA:  Las Vegas Aviators strafed the Sacramento River Cats 9-2.

Turner Hill RF- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(9).  BA= .351.

Eric Cerantola RHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 7.36.

AA:  Harrisburg Senators downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-2.

Trevor Cohen CF- 4 for 5, 2 SB(11).  BA= .351.

Jean Carlos Sio RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .219.

Greg Farone LHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.60.

Marques Johnson RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.22.

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

Lisbel Diaz CF- 2 for 4, HR(19).  BA= .286.

Cam Maldonado RF- 2 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .364.

Jose Ramos LF- 1 for 3, BB, SB(6).  BA= .280.

Ramon Marquez RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 9.00.

Hunter Dryden RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.75.

Ramon Marquez makes his first start for the Giants organization after coming over in the trade with the Phillies for Luis Arraez.  He allowed 4 baserunners and they all scored.  The 8/1 K/BB would tend to indicate he has electric stuff and just needs to learn how to pitch.

A:  Fresno Grizzlies defeated the San Jose Giants 7-2.

Fernando Gonzalez C- 2 for 3, HR(2).  BA= .273.

DSL:  Giants Black destroyed Mets Orange 9-1.

Franco Willias DH- 3 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 SB(31).  BA= .406.

Keiberg Camacaro 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .344.

Rainer Espinoza RF- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .091.

Diego Alambarrio C- 3 for 3.  BA= .291.

Alexander Camacaro 2B- 1 for 3, BB, SB(16).  BA= .277.

Santiago Guerrero LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.34.

Edwin Reynoso LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.25.

Moises Soto LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.50.

DSL:  Giants Orange vs Blue Jays Red cancelled due to rain.

Game Wrap 8/11/2026: Giants 4 Astros 1

Carson Whisenhunt overcame early inning command issues to limit the Astros to a run over 5.2 IP and the lineup chipped away at Astros starter Hunter Brown RHP with enough runs for a win.  Key Lines:

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 1 for 4, HR(12), R, RBI.  BA= .248.  Eldridge drove one over the L-CF wall for the Giants 3'rd run of the game and give Whiz some breathing room.  

Drew Gilbert CF- 1 for 3, BB, R, RBI.  BA= .238.  Gilbert drove in the Giants first run with a single.  He then drew a walk on a very close 3-2 pitch which the Astros catcher challenged but the ball was confirmed.  He then advanced to 2B on a groundout and scored on a singled by Drew Cavanaugh.  I thought Gilbert was the one who challenged a strike and texted my friend that it was a high leverage challenge buy Gilbert but it was the Astros catcher how challenged a ball call and lost.  Still a high-leverage challenge.  

Drew Cavanaugh C- 2 for 4, SB(1), R, RBI.  BA= .242.  Cavanaugh singled in the 6'th with 2 outs.  Christian Koss got both cheeks into one and hit a laser beam over the head of the LF for a double that drove in Cavanaugh from 1B with Koss advancing to 3B on a throwing error.  That was the Giants 4'th run of the game.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.11.  Whisenhunt loaded the bases with one out in the first inning and no outs in the second.  I think he threw over 50 pitches in the two innings but allowed just 1 run.  After that he settled down and was excellent over the next 2.2 IP.  Hopefully a learning/growing experience.  

Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 7.36.  Per Kruk, Seymour missed badly with his slider to the first couple of batters he faced with Kruk saying, "no bueno."  He settled down to pitch a couple of very needed scoreless innings.

The Giants try for a series win tomorrow afternoon with TBD facing Bryan King LHP who comes in with an ERA of 3.83.  It looks like this is his first start so he might be an Opener.