The San Francisco Giants‘ division odds are looking pretty slim after their recent performance. It was not long ago that they sat two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place. While they are still ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and occupy second, they are now 8.5 games behind the Dodgers. While not impossible, it would be incredibly hard to catch up.
Giants Division Odds Are Falling
A Seesaw Season
The division chances looked decent for the Giants after they surprised everyone by breaking through the barrier that seemed as though it would be ever-present this season. Their run included a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in June. But what is the lesson here? You can’t make too much of any particular stretch the Giants have. This applies equally when it’s good and when it’s bad. The overall picture is always more complicated. So much so that we cannot predict with confidence what the ultimate result for them will be at the season’s end.
And this past week, they did not play well. Actually, it all started last weekend when they were swept in two games by the Oakland Athletics. Then they lost the next series to the Los Angeles Angels. And the next one to the Texas Rangers. It just did not look good.
But in all of this, let’s remember the refreshing end to their series against Texas. They took game three on a walk-off home run from Patrick Bailey. So we really don’t know which way things will turn next.
PATRICK BAILEY
1.71 sec pop time on 9th-inning CS
that’s the fastest pop time to 2B in MLB this season
AND
it’s fastest-tracked pop time to 2B by a Giants catcher under Statcast (2015)…Bailey has each of the top 14 on that list https://t.co/vD7OEpNBNn
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 13, 2023
Realistic Expectations Going Forward
There is no doubt that there will be a lot of competition for a Wild Card spot. The Giants will be put to the test, but there is a good chance that they will make it into the Wild Card. Then they have to win two games to make it to the National League Division Series. Hopefully, they will be able to make it easy by having Logan Webb pitch the first game and Alex Cobb pitch the second. But those two pitchers will need to be on their best game. Anyone can have a bad day, and sometimes clutch moments are the real test, especially in the postseason.
Still, it isn’t time to focus on the postseason until we’re certain that the Giants can get there first. And it is certain that many fans expect them to make it. Here’s the question: When we get to the end of August, will it be more clear where the Giants stand in relation to the other postseason contenders, or will it still be any man’s game? Honestly, we have to be prepared for a postseason race that goes into the final week of the season, because it may happen.
If their division odds completely fade away, the Giants just have to keep their focus and make their best run at a Wild Card spot. All of their accomplishments this season cannot go to waste. It is time for them to get back into the postseason.
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Is There Still a Slim Hope for a Division Title?
The answer, of course, is yes. Nothing is impossible. Teams have blown huge leads before, and it could happen that even the formidable Dodgers will. The division odds definitely do not line up in the Giants’ favor. But it isn’t time for the Giants to give up.
It is probably a pretty good guess that these final two months are the real “intensity time” for the Dodgers. But if that guess is wrong, the Giants could possibly have the opportunity to capitalize. It’s extremely unlikely, but anything can happen in baseball.
Main photo credits:
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
