Down on the Farm: 4/2/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats at Salt Lake City Bees postponed.

A:  San Jose Giants outscored the Stockton Ports 12-8.

Jhonny Level SS- 3 for 5, SB(1).  BA= .600.

Junior Barajas C- 2 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .400.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .500.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 3 for 4, 3B, HR(1), BB.  BA= .750.

Andrew Polanco CF- 1 for 4, 2 SB(2).  BA= .250.

Cody Delvecchio RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Great start for Jhonny Level at the top of the batting order.  Hayden Jatczak is a 24 yo signed as an undrafted free agent last summer.  He's a big guy at 6' 4", 237 lbs.  Bats RH.  Cody Delvecchio was the Giants 12'th round draft pick out of UCLA in 2026.  He looked impressive in limited spring training appearances.

Game Wrap 4/2/2026: Giants 7 Mets 2

The Giants played like they had something to prove, individually and collectively and prove it they did with a wire-to-wire win over the Mets.  Even Manager Tony Vitello got into the accountability act with some decisive managing.  Key Lines:

Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 5, HR(1), R, RBI.  BA= .259.  The solo home run came in add-on time but you can never score too many runs.  

Luis Arraez 2B- 2 for 5, 3B, 2 R, RBI.  BA= .321.  I read a story on the internets that said Arraez lit up the clubhouse with some pointed comments after yesterday's game.  Although the story sounded plausible it also read like it was written at least in part by AI.  If there is truth in it, Arraez backed it up with another multi-hit game including a 2-out RBI triple in the first inning to get the Giants their first run.  He then scored on Chapman's double.

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .222.  Chapman was another guy with something to prove after he got some blowback for his criticism of Casey Schmitt's catching ability.  He hit a 2-out double in the first to drive in Arraez and then scored on an error by the pitcher to give the Giants a 3-1 lead after the first inning.

Daniel Susac C- 3 for 3, BB.  BA= 1.000.  Susac gets his first MLB start and reaches base 4 times.  Alas, he did not figure into the scoring.  

Casey Schmitt 1B- 3 for 3, BB, RBI.  BA= .273.  And speaking of something to prove.  Schmitty was the goat and whipping boy yesterday.  Not only did he reach base 4 times but also looked much more confident on defense making some plays that weren't so easy.  

Robbie Ray LHP- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.38.  Typical Robbie Ray start keeping his team in the game but with inconsistent command and a lot of pitches thrown.  Vitello took him out at 97 pitches after he recorded the first out of the 6'th inning. And who should he bring in but Ryan Walker RHP who got lucky on a savvy ABS challenge by Daniel Susac on a 3-2 pitch and then got the last out on a flyout.  Welp, that is certainly one way to announce your closer is no longer the closer.  

Blade Tidwell RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Another bold managing move that may signal a new strategy. Instead of using multiple relievers for an inning each when the Giants have a big lead, Vitello has now twice brought in a reliever and let them work the rest of the game, saving the high leverage relievers for a closer game.  We'll monitor this situation going forward, but so far I like it.  

The Win improves the Giants record to 3-4 and leaves them 1.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, time with the D'Backs.

Tyler Mahle RHP gets the ball tomorrow facing Nolan McLean RHP.  

Down on the Farm: 4/1/2026

AAA:  The Sacramento River Cats tamed the Salt Lake City Bees 10-5.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB, HBP.  BA= .278.

Grant McCray RF- 2 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .316.

Eric Haase C- 3 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .600.

Thomas Gavello SS- 2 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .188.

John Michael Bertrand LHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.14.

Marques Johnson RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.70.

Michael Fulmer RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Eric Haase was released on 3/25/2026 but re-signed 3/31 to a minor league contract.  

 

Game Wrap 4/1/2026: Padres 7 Giants 1

A pair of errors leading to two unearned runs were probably the difference in this game on a day the lineup once again struggled against good pitching.  Key Lines:

Luis Arraez 2B- 3 for 4, 2B, SB(2).  BA= .304.  Arraez had 3 of the Giants 4 hits and made a nifty play on defense ranging far to his left and throwing a perfect strike to Adrian Houser covering first to retire Jackson Merrill, a fast runner, in the third inning.  

Adrian Houser RHP- 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's, 8/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 1.69.  Houser pitched well and deserved a better outcome both with more run support and with better fielding behind him.  In the first inning with 2 outs, Jackson Merrill was running on the pitch and came all the way around to score when Schmitt had the throw from Matt Chapman, which should have been out number 3, clank off his glove down the RF line.  Then in the 5'th Chapman made another throw with two outs that clanked off Schmitt's glove but this time the scorer gave the error to Chapman.  The one earned run Houser allowed came in the 6'th inning when he was obviously tiring. Without those two errors his pitch count might have been lower and he might have gotten through the 6'th before hitting his wall.

Caleb Kilian RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Kilian may be the comeback story of the year.  

Jose Butto RHP- 0.1 IP, 3 H 4 R, 4 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 22.50.  Butto didn't have it as was having to wear it when he suffered an apparent injury.  Not sure what all was going on out on the mound but Kuip commented that Butto did not look happy.  Ryan Borucki LHP came on and got the last 2 outs.  

The Giants season record drops to 2-4.  They return to Oracle Park tomorrow evening to start a 4-game series against the Mets with Robbie Ray LHP facing David Peterson LHP.

Down on the Farm: 3/31/2026

 AAA:  The Salt Lake City Bees swarmed the Sacramento River Cats 13-5:

Buddy Kennedy 3B- 4 for 4, 2B.  BA= .500.

Seth Lonsway LHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 8/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.

Not much else to see here.  If recall correctly, Lonsway looked pretty good in a couple of spring training appearances.

Game Wrap 3/31/2026: Giants 9 Padres 3

Willy Adames led off the game with a home run and the Giants never looked back in spite of a shaky start by Logan Webb.  Key Lines:

Willy Adames SS- 4 for 5, 2B, HR(1), 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .300.  Adames looked relaxed and dialed in at the plate,  made multiple strong defensive plays and was the star of the game.  Great to see this early in the season.  

Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 4, BB, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .222.  Ramos flied out with one out and the bases loaded in the second inning but picked himself up by singling in two runs in another bases-loaded situation in the 6'th inning to break the game open.

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 5, HR(1), 2 R, RBI.  BA= .222.  Chapman's solo home run in the third inning gave the Giants a 4-0 lead and enabled them to keep the lead after the Padres scored 3 off Logan Webb in the bottom of the inning.

Jung Hoo Lee RF- 3 for 5, 2 2B, 3 RBI.  BA= .222.  Lee barely missed a third double on a rope down the RF line that landed foul but about a foot and half.  He followed that up with a bloop single that drove in a run.  As Vin Scully would say, "go figure!"  Oh, and .222 seems to be a popular batting average today.

Every member of the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 5 K's, 8/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 7.36.    Webb was shaky through 3 innings and Manager Tony Vitello had J. T. Brubaker up in the bullpen as pitch count soared through a 3-run third inning.  Webb got through the 4'th inning on two line-outs and a ground out.  He then struck out the heart of the Padres batting order in the 5'th, Fernando Tatis RF, Manny Machado 3B and Jackson Merrill CF.  By now, Webb's pitch count was up to 97 but Vitello let him go out for the 6'th.  That did not look like such a great idea when Webb went to a 3-1 count on the first batter, but he got 3 grounders on 3 pitches to get out of the inning after 104 pitches and recording a Quality Start.  Great comeback by Webb who was enabled by a great night for the lineup.

Brubaker worked two scoreless innings and Jose Butto RHP pitched a scoreless 9'th inning to secure the Giants win.

The Giants record improved to 2-3 and they are tied with the D'Backs 2 games behind the Dodgers who are at 4-1.

Adrian Houser RHP makes his first start of the season tomorrow afternoon facing Nick Pivetta RHP who is coming off a disaster start so he'll be looking to bounce back.

Game Wrap 3/30/2026: Giants 3 Padres 2

 

Harrison Bader jump-started the scoring with a solo home run to lead off the third inning.  The bottom of the lineup added two more runs in the 4'th inning in support of Landen Roupp's stellar start and the Giants survived a shaky 9'th inning by Ryan Walker for their first win of the season.  Key Lines:

Harrison Bader CF- 1 for 4, HR(1), R, RBI.  BA= .143.  Bader unloaded on his old college teammate, Walker Buehler RHP, to give Roupp a lead he did not give up.

Casey Schmitt 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, SB(1), RBI.  BA= .167.  There have been calls from within the Giants blogosphere for Encarnacion instead of Schmitt in the lineup.  Schmitty quieted those calls with a 2-hit performance tonight as well as some nifty fielding plays at first base.

Landen Roupp RHP- 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K's, 7/0 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.  I am pretty sure if this game was in Oracle Park, Roupp would have gotten a standing O as he walked off the field after the 6'th inning.  A masterful performance of mixing pitches and locations to keep the Padres lineup off balance all evening.  Once again, his curveball was particularly effective.  

Keaton Winn RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Winn's sinker-split combo was unhittable and had Kruk and Kuip commenting that he has Closer's stuff.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, Save(1).  ERA= 7.71.  Walker picks up right where he left off last season.  He's a 2-pitch pitcher and doesn't have command of either one.  Do you trust him with anything less than a 3-run lead?  Do you trust him with a 3-run lead?

The win improves the Giants record to 1-3 good enough for a tie for 2'nd place in the NL West.

Logan Webb RHP tries to shake off his Opening Day loss tomorrow evening facing German Marquez RHP.

The Giants made three roster moves today:  

Luis Matos OF was traded to the Brewers for cash considerations.  Not sure if the BrewCrew has the playing time Matos needs to succeed, but otherwise it seems like a perfect landing for him.

The Giants traded with the Tigers for Dylan Smith RHP for cash considerations. He was recently DFA'd off the Tigers Roster.  He pitched at multiple levels last season including 13 innings for the Tigers with a 1.38 ERA despite a 2.77 K/9.  He is a hard thrower with a FB averaging 95 MPH and had a much higher K/9 in the minors.  He still has 2 options so can be assigned to AAA Sacramento.  

Tyler Fitzgerald UT was DFA'd.  He had one insane stretch from 7/9/2024-8/14/2026 where he hit 13 home runs.  High K rates eventually caught up with him.  He regressed badly and never recovered.