The San Francisco Giants have started the 2026 Major League Baseball season off 0-3 and did not score a run in their first two games.
On Saturday night, the Giants scored their first run, giving them one run in 27 innings played. They did manage nine hits, but could not get more than one clutch hit to drive in any more runs. San Francisco’s lineup is more power-oriented than contact-oriented. Players like Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos rely on power but tend to strike out a lot.
Giants manager Tony Vitello has Matt Chpamn batting second, ahead of Rafael Devers. I get why he’s doing it so that Chapman can see more hittable pitches in front of Devers, but it’s not a fit. On Saturday, Vitello moved Lee to the lead-off spot and moved Arraez to third and Devers to fourth; Chapman remained second.
Contact at the top of the Lineup
The Giants must start emphasizing getting on base at the top of the lineup. Players like Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez are capable of providing consistent contact and strong on-base percentages, two elements the Giants desperately need. I know Lee is 1-10 in three games, but he only struck out twice and makes a lot of contact. Arraez is 3-11 in three games and has struck out once. Both players put the ball in play, and it could help the top of the lineup
Too often, the lineup has relied on power hitters to carry the offense, but without runners on base, those home runs turn into solo shots. Establishing a steady table-setting presence at the top of the order would immediately create more scoring opportunities for the middle of the lineup.
Middle of the Lineup Needs to Step Up
The Giants need their run producers to step up and start hitting. Chapman, Devers, and Adames have to pick it up. When they all struggle, the Giants’ offense can not score any runs.
The Giants don’t necessarily need each of those hitters to carry the team every night, but they do need consistent extra-base hits and timely RBI production. Getting players on base when they come up would go a long way for the offense.
Adust Approach
Oracle Park is not a hitter-friendly park, so the Giants may need to focus on more contact and situational hitting to put pressure on the opposing team’s defense. When you focus on home runs, you strike a lot and have trouble scoring. Putting the ball in play could lead to good things happening.
Bottom Line
The good news is that there are still 160 games left and plenty of time for the Giants to turn their offense around. Offensive slumps can turn around quickly once hitters find their rhythm. The talent is present in the lineup, but turning potential into production will require better execution, improved plate discipline, and a more consistent offensive strategy.
If the Giants can get their table setter on base and the middle infield heats up, they could start scoring a lot of runs. If they want to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco will need to score runs.
