Series Preview: SF Giants @ Atlanta- details and 3 players to watch
The SF Giants enter the back half of August with a tough hill to climb ahead of them. Already having dropped series to the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays, the Giants now have to deal with the first of two series against the AL East-leading Atlanta this month. Here are three difference-makers the Giants will need to rely on as they desperately cling to Wild Card contention.
1. CF Wade Meckler
The latest rookie to join the 2023 youth wave, Meckler's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. A 2022 second-round pick, Meckler logged just 92 games in the last two years at any level in the minors before being given the call to join San Francisco. A Giants prospect hasn't reached the majors that quickly since Will 'the Thrill' Clark back in 1986.
While the hype is building around him, Meckler's success is far from guaranteed. But there's good reason to believe he has the tools to stick around. In his 92 minor league games, Meckler hit .377 with a .999 OPS, and he's holding his own at 3-for-10 with a walk so far in San Francisco. He's able to consistently put the ball in play, and he's a high-effort defender in center who's already made a few eyebrow-raising plays. He's undersized and the power may not come this year, but he could be a genuine bright spot as the year wraps up.
2. RF Michael Conforto
Part of the reason the Giants have struggled lately is a dearth of hitting from their veteran corps. Players like Brandon Crawford, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, J.D. Davis, and Joc Pederson have slumped mightily over the past month. But Conforto, who represented the Giants' biggest free-agent signing, has carried outsized expectations in an underwhelming year. But he may be on the verge of a breakout.
After an underwhelming July (.260 batting average, but just .654 OPS), Conforto's power stroke has returned. In the past week, Conforto has swatted two home runs and posted an OPS of 1.480. It doesn't seem like a flash in the pan, either. He's looked more comfortable at the plate, and he's among the hitters that have been driving the ball with authority lately. Even if he doesn't average two home runs a week for the rest of the year, a locked-in Conforto could be exactly the kind of offensive engine this team needs to make a playoff push.
3. C Patrick Bailey
Patrick Bailey has been nothing short of phenomenal this year. Despite debuting more than a month into the season, Bailey has been the Giants' most valuable position player, at 2.8 fWAR. And the eye test doesn't just back it up, it backs up the Brinks truck. He boasts the fastest pop time to second base this year (1.71 seconds), grades out as a top-2 framer in the MLB per Baseball Savant, and leads all catchers in Defensive Runs Saved.
Oh, and last weekend, he did this:
Series Details
Who: SF Giants at Atlanta
Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
When: August 18-20, Friday (4:20 PM), Saturday (4:20 PM), and Sunday (10:35 AM). All times Pacific.
Giants' current streak: L1, 3-7 in last 10. 64-57 overall, 2nd place in NL West (10.5 GB)
Atlanta's current streak: W3, 8-2 in last 10. 78-42 overall, 1st place in NL East
Projected starters
Friday: Alex Cobb (6-4, 3.62) vs. Spencer Strider (13-4, 3.75 ERA)
Saturday: Logan Webb (9-9, 3.26 ERA) vs. Yonny Chirinos (5-5, 5.22 ERA)
Sunday: TBD** vs. Max Fried* (4-1, 2.57 ERA)
*Indicates LHP
**Indicates opener
How to watch, listen
- SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
- Opposing broadcast: Bally Sports Southeast, 680 AM/93.7 FM, 1600/1460/1130 AM Español
- National broadcasts: MLB Network (Sunday, out of market only)
- Live stream: fuboTV (start your free trial)
