This is the final 2026 meeting of these two teams, with each previous series being split, namely 2-1, 1-2, and 1-2. Thus, the newly revived Giants actually stand a chance of splitting a season series, and against a playoff opponent! As of now, the Padres are in the final WC slot, but only ½ game ahead of the Snakes. They will be motivated. The final three games are
• Friday, 7:15, LHP Robbie Ray (1-2, 4.71) vs. Anthony Molina (3-0, 1.88), on APPLE
• Saturday, 1:05, RHP Michael King (10-9, 3.00) vs. Cesar Perdomo (0-0, 0.90)
• Sunday, 4:20, RHP Nick Pavetta (2-2, 3.43) vs. Logan Webb (8-8, 4.10), on Peacock
Thank you, Mr. Manfred, by following up your blackout of the Cardinals with two more blackouts, I’m so happy my MLB TV subscription feels so important to you. Ray’s numbers as a Padre, Molina’s as a Giant, neither is full season.
Saturday’s game is “Dog Days”, tix at https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/dog-day with pooches allowed onto the field.
The rotation now looks like Webb, Roupp, Tidwell, Molina, and Perdomo with Yunior Marte’s role unclear, and with the Tugboat (Matt Wilkinson) now a member of the ‘pen.
You know who the Padres are, so we won’t take up space listing them all. Manny Machado with 80 RBI and Jackson Merrill with 79 both lead hot dog slathered in mustard and relish Fernando Tatis’ 72.
The Giants recent good play leaves them at 5-4 for September, and in need of only one more win to avoid tying the franchise’s all-time worst record. This has been accompanied by a string of young players grabbing Picture of the Post honors, namely Osleivis Basabe, Eddys Leonard, Jonah Cox, Christian Koss, Drew Gilbert, Victor Bericoto, Blade Tidwell, Yunior Marte, Reiver Sanmartin, Cesar Perdomo, and Andrew Molina, each taking the honor since August started. Rafi Devers was the only established player to break up the pattern of young’uns.
And there are still more young players to celebrate, so that’s Turner Hill at the top of today’s post. Nobody drafted Hill in 2022, so he signed a minor league deal with the Giants in May of 2023. Played for San Jose that year, and split 2024 between Eugene, Richmond, and even Sacramento. 2025 was Richmond and Sacramento. Hill played briefly for Richmond at the start of this year, got a promotion to Sacramento, and made his MLB debut on August 13th, after Eddys Leonard’s cup of coffee. Hill is now 17-63 (0.270) with 6 doubles and 12 RBI. He has shown a good glove, and is now a frequent name in the line ups. Victor Bericoto has begun a rehab assignment with the River Cats, and should take some OF playing time with the Giants soon. But until Bo Davidson is rostered over the winter, Hill has to be in the top 5 outfielders (Lee, Cox, Gilbert, Bericoto, Hill), so it figures to be Grant McCray who is bumped when Bericoto returns. And now Turner Hill has got a Picture to his credit, not bad for an undrafted player from Marietta College.
