Ahead of San Francisco’s Friday night tilt against the New York Mets, the Giants are six games under .500. They’re 6-12, which is their worst record through the first 18 games of a season since 2017.
The Giants have lost series to the Royals, Tigers, and Marlins — all clubs who missed the postseason last year.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler, in his fourth season at the helm, pointed to some key areas that need improvement during his pregame media session.
“We want to get healthier,” Kapler said. “That will help us. We want to collectively make more contact in productive outs situations. We expect to have less damage happen on the mound — again, collectively. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone in particular, but from an all-around baseball perspective, less damage as a pitching staff. As an offensive group, more productive outs, more contact in productive outs situations. Better fundamental baseball…to get a little more specific, we need to continue to work on controlling the running game from every angle. Those are a couple of things that come to mind.”
“But there’s more,” the manager added. “There’s always room for improvement from every angle for a Major League Baseball team.”
On the injury front, neither Austin Slater nor Mitch Haniger — both key parts of SF’s outfield — haven’t played yet this season. Having both of them sidelined at the same time has depleted the Giants’ order against left-handed pitching; against southpaws, SF ranks 29th in OPS.
Haniger (oblique/back) and Slater (hamstring) are both in Sacramento for rehab assignments and making progress, but there’s no exact timetable for their returns.
Making more consistent and more effective contact is the most pressing issue facing the Giants’ offense, though. Through 18 games, San Francisco has struck out 193 times — the highest rate in MLB.
In Thursday night’s 9-4 loss to the Mets, the Giants struck out a season-low five times. Kapler said that’s slightly promising, but obviously not as encouraging as actually winning the game.
“Not overly encouraging,” Kapler said. “You want to win baseball games. That’s what’s going to be very encouraging, is when we start to string together wins. Which, I have a lot of confidence that we will. There’s no switch to flip here. It’s working on every little detail every day. All the marginal things really matter. And sometimes you’re planting seeds and you want to see things sprout soon, fast. Sometimes it takes a little longer.”
The process-oriented Giants have consistently been searching for value on the margins during the Kapler-Farhan Zaidi era. None of that is unique to this season or the current situation.
Another common thread has been Kapler’s approach. When asked if his message is any different when his team is struggling in April compared to if it was struggling later in the season, he maintained that it’s important for him to project poise.
“In my opinion, managing and coaching in general, includes demeanor,” Kapler said. “I think it’s really important to remember that very little of the season has passed at this point. There’s no question we have not gotten off to a good start. But you guys have probably talked to me at various points over the last couple years, and my message is pretty similar: stay calm, stay even. When we win five games in a row, it’s a great thing but also stay even through that. When you’re off to a tough start in April, through April 20, it’s the same thing. Not too high, not too low. Be consistent. Get back to work every single day. Get all the value at the margins. From a manager’s standpoint: be consistent, be the same person every day, be dependable.”
- Shortstop Brandon Crawford is getting Friday night off, but could be available to hit off the bench. Crawford is experiencing a bit of discomfort in his ribs area after diving to his left Thursday night, Kapler said, but the injury doesn’t sound serious. Thairo Estrada is starting in his place.
- Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaid is showing Sacramento Kings president and general manager Monte McNair around the ballpark Friday night. McNair’s Kings are in San Francisco this weekend as the Kings and Warriors match up in the first round. Sacramento currently leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Zaidi, McNair, Kapler and Giants starter Logan Webb — an avid Kings fan — spent much of batting practice chatting by the home dugout.
- Left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi is starting for the Mets on Friday night — his first MLB action since 2021. He underwent Tommy John surgery and has posted a 2.30 ERA in four Triple-A starts this year preceding his promotion.
- Former Giant Mauricio Dubón extended his hitting streak to 15, the longest active streak in MLB. Dubón has been leading off for the Houston Astros.
Kapler still holds the Texas Rangers franchise record for longest hit streak (28 games), which he set in 2000.