The baseball season is just coming into its second month, however the Giants and Dodgers are off to the races once more, establishing a sequel to the storied rivals’ dash to the NL West crown final season.
The pennant race will go down as probably the greatest in baseball historical past. The Giants gained a franchise-record 107 video games, but wanted all 162 to clinch the division crown, then the drama continued for 5 thrilling NLDS video games. And with one checked-swing, all of it got here to an finish.
“The fan of baseball in me thought that was the good factor,” supervisor Gabe Kapler stated this week, reflecting on the pennant race and the Giants’ first-ever postseason showdown with their rivals from Los Angeles. “Taking a step again, taking a look at it from a 30,000-foot view, it was phenomenal; it was quite a lot of enjoyable. I believe it was most likely enjoyable for all of the followers that acquired to witness that.”
Because the calendar turns to Might — and the Giants’ first probability on the Dodgers looms this week — it’s to date wanting solely like a continuation of final 12 months. Prepared for spherical two? It begins Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium.
Listed here are just a few storylines to look at this month.
NL West race heats up
The Giants maintain a file of 121-63 for the reason that begin of final season, the perfect successful share within the majors — by a half-game on the Dodgers. It seems just like the NL West rivals are proper again at it this 12 months.
Check out the place their MLB rank in three key classes after the primary month of the season:
- ERA: LAD 1st (2.33); SF sixth (3.06)
- Runs per sport: LAD 2nd (4.86); SF 1st (4.95)
- Run differential: LAD 1st (+47); SF 4th (+34)
One distinction this 12 months: they may have firm within the division race.
New supervisor Bob Melvin seems to have smoothed the tensions that sank San Diego’s season final 12 months, and it’s not Kris Bryant carrying the Rockies, however Colorado can also be off to a torrid begin. Arizona’s offense is as putrid as anticipated, batting .181 as a group, however has by some means managed 10 wins, making the NL West the one division in baseball with all of its groups reaching double-digit win totals by Might 1.
The Giants solely performed one collection in opposition to an NL West foe throughout the first month, taking two of three from the Padres. That’s about to alter, due to a backloaded divisional schedule. Their two-game set with the Dodgers kicks off 11 NL West video games in Might, adopted by six in June, then 17 every in July and August, and 22 between September and October.
The Giants beat up on backside feeders final 12 months, going 17-2 in opposition to last-place Arizona and 15-4 in opposition to fourth-place Colorado. As essential as their collection are with the Dodgers and Padres, it’s essential for San Francisco to rack up wins in opposition to outmatched groups. As they discovered final 12 months, even successful 107 video games, each one counts.
Roster on the mend
It’s not simply their file, it’s how the Giants are successful that appears so just like final season. As soon as once more, they’ve been carried to probably the greatest data within the Nationwide League by seemingly a brand new group of gamers each week.
With guys like Brandon Belt, Mike Yastrzemski, Joc Pederson and others out final week, the team-leader in OPS over the previous seven days was Jason Vosler (1.181). Since he was known as up, onetime waiver-wire pickup Luis Gonzalez has batted .276/.324/.414, together with a clutch residence run. Mike Ford, a burly first baseman who wasn’t within the group this time final week, drove in two runs in Sunday’s loss.
Granted, the Giants’ successful share has shrunk as their COVID record has grown. (Though, no fault of the fill-in beginning 9, which remains to be averaging an MLB-leading 4.95 runs per sport … second place: the Dodgers, at 4.86).
The Giants are set to get again eight gamers over the following few weeks. Quickly, they’ll have their alternative of Tommy La Stella, Pederson, Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Belt as puzzle items to suit collectively in three outfield spots, first base and DH in an all-left-handed hitting association to roll out in opposition to right-handers. Add Evan Longoria, who ought to assume on a regular basis duties at third, too.
That’s a internet acquire of roughly 50 OPS factors per participant, averaging out profession stats in opposition to their replacements.
Pitching and protection
The Giants’ homestand resulted in unfamiliar vogue.
The usually slick-fielding group — coached primarily by Kai Correa within the infield and Antoan Richardson within the outfield — had dedicated just one error over a 12-game stretch coming into final weekend’s collection finale in Washington. However Vosler’s essential error within the first inning of Sunday’s loss marked the Giants’ eighth straight sport with a defensive miscue.
That didn’t assist a pitching employees that allowed 45 hits and 28 runs over three video games to the comparatively lowly Nationals lineup.
“We simply need to play higher baseball,” Kapler stated. “Make extra pitches on the mound, make extra performs on protection and drive the baseball just a little bit greater than we're.”
Logan Webb was sensible in his first two outings (14 innings, 1.29 ERA) however had a 4.96 ERA in his last three begins of the month, consultant of a bigger regression by a hobbled Giants rotation.
Over the previous week, their 5.20 ERA is sandwiched between the Orioles (twenty eighth) and the Reds (thirtieth) because the second-worst within the majors, considerably totally different firm than they have been holding firstly of the homestand, when the Dodgers have been considered one of solely two groups within the majors to permit fewer runs by their first 17 video games this season.
Pitching ranks by April 25 (coming into most up-to-date homestand)
Bullpen ERA – 1st (1.65)
Starters ERA – sixth (3.10)
Pitching ranks by Might 1 (after most up-to-date homestand)
Bullpen ERA – third (2.59)
Starters ERA – tenth (3.51)