So a month of baseball has been played. We have a decent sample size now to justify overreactions to underachievers and whether overachievers are for real.
So checking in on the San Francisco Giants with their first-time manager Tony Vitello and they’re sitting at the bottom of the NL West division at 13-19, following their 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on May 1.
Many have had things to do say about Vitello, whether he’s too candid with media, if he’s lost the locker room or has them playing with an edge, or if he’s too playful with his team.
The Giants’ woes aren’t a product of the relationship their first-year skipper has with his team. But San Francisco’s issues derive from their on-field play, or lack thereof. Offensively, there are a myriad of glaring issues. Overall, hitting needs improvement. This team has had trouble producing runs and their bullpen could use a boost as well.
Giants grade a month into the 2026 season: D+
San Francisco Giants: Phillies earn back-to-back walk off wins in doubleheader vs. Giants
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
Giants need to improve hitting
San Francisco has been one of the worst-hitting teams in all of Major League Baseball, a strange occurrence for a team stacked with the likes of Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Luis Arraez, Casey Schmitt, and Heliot Ramos, to name a few capable weapons.
The Giants rank last in MLB offensive categories as a team, including offensive runs scored, home runs, stolen bases, and walks. Through 32 games, the Giants have only registered 66 walks and 19 home runs.
The team bats .246 and has produced the fewest RBIs, at 99.
Although it’s early, San Francisco has begun to dig themselves into a shallow hole to start 2026. The Giants need to find a rhythm and turn their season around before things get out of hand.
Giants can’t formulate runs
Another glaring issue is that the Giants are having trouble putting runs on the board. They can’t formulate scoring in crucial moments and it’s causing them to lose games.
They were embarrassed in their season-home opener against the New York Yankees after being shutout twice: 7-0 on March 25 and 3-0 on March 27. Maybe one could say it was simply jitters from all the excitement of a new baseball season, but it seems the tension has carried on for a little over one month into the season.
The Giants were shut out for an MLB-leading seventh time this season after their 3-0 loss to the Rays on May 1. It’s the most the team’s been shutout in the first 32 games since 1976. When they’re not being shutout, they are only producing one- or two-run contests. It’s occurred on eight different instances or 25% of games played.
The team ranks last in MLB with 104 runs. But their issues aren’t just a matter of hitting, but also decision-making from the shot callers.
Is coaching holding back Giants?
On multiple occasions, in previous games, there have been lapses in judgment when leading and instructing players on when or when not to round bases. Not capitalizing during momentous periods of the game has been a pivotal decision that has been the difference maker in wins versus losses.
Third base coach Hector Borg in back-to-back games has made seemingly questionable calls instructing his players to round a base or stay safe. During San Francisco’s May 1 contest with the Rays, the Giants trailed 1-0 at the top of the fourth inning with Arraez at bat who knocked one just past first base. It was clearly enough for a double, but Borg allegedly instructed him to advance to third where Arraez was tagged out.
In the previous game, Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert had a chance to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader that went to extra innings. It was the top of 10th inning, Ramos was at bat and hit it towards second base, off the glove of Phillies’ Bryson Stott as it landed in a gap towards the outfielders.
Gilbert started at second, rounded third, and looked to make his way home to give the Giants a one-run lead, but was seemingly waved off by Borg. Gilbert stayed at third and the Giants didn’t score in the inning. Instead, the Phillies took over at bat and won the game on a walk-off RBI.
Giants need bullpen help
If things already look grim, you don’t want to know about their pitching. The Giants’ pitching ranks are all over the place. San Francisco ranks 20th with 262 strikeouts. They are 10th in MLB in earned run average with 3.94 and are tied at 8th in total earned runs with the Miami Marlins at 124.
They are in the middle of the pack with home runs allowed. The Giants, tied at 16th, have had 32 homers hit on them, same as the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners.
San Francisco has allowed 121 walks, tied for 10th most in MLB with the Marlins and Minnesota Twins.
They have competitive starting pitchers in Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser. But questions lie in their relievers and closers. The Giants need those guys to step up their play.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco Giants grades after month into 2026 season
