The San Francisco Giants are Showing us What Could Have Been

Over the past week the San Francisco Giants have shown fans what could have been this year if healthy and productive with wins against quality teams.

The San Francisco Giants are 5-3 in their last eight games with back-to-back series wins and a win this week against the defending World Series champs.

They are 18-19 since June 26, which isn’t great, but is still a step in the right direction.

Over the last seven days the San Francisco Giants are hitting .264 as a team and are averaging 5.3 runs per game.

That average is 20 points higher than their season average of .246, which is second worst in the National League. They’re season average for runs per game is 4, so they’ve been over a run higher the past week.

The pitching has been really good the past week as well. They have a 3.08 ERA in 73 innings with 55 strikeouts. That ERA is over a run better than their season ERA of 4.54.

Their K/9 in the last eight games is actually lower than their season average. That either means the defense has been better, or pitchers are getting a little lucky. It could also mean they’re creating bad contact, which is a possibility.

The .245 batting average against is almost 30 points lower than their season average of .274 BAA. That also speaks to the fact that pitchers are getting bad contact on balls in play.

Of course, any time you add a pitcher like Madison Bumgarner to the rotation you expect improved numbers. He’s gone seven innings in his last two outings, allowing just two runs combined.

But it’s Ty Blach who has given this pitching staff a jolt with a 2.40 ERA in two wins during this eight game stretch.

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• SF Giants sign veteran 1B John Nogowski to minor league deal
• SF Giants call on veteran LHP Scott Kazmir for big start against Padres
• SF Giants: Update on Alex Dickerson’s rehab assignment
• Atlanta claims SF Giants C Chadwick Tromp off waivers

Most importantly, the bullpen has been lights out. Outside of Albert Suarez allowing a couple of runs, the bullpen has held teams scoreless over the last eight games.

On the offensive side, Jarrett Parker is trying to take advantage of his next chance in the big leagues. He’s hit .429 in his last 21 at-bats with a home run and 7 RBI.

Hunter Pence has been great as well with a .318 average in his last six games, and Brandon Crawford is hitting the best he has all year.

Interestingly enough, Buster Posey is hitting just .143 in his last seven games. That’s actually not a terrible thing as it proves this team can still win without him producing. However, when Posey has done something this past week it’s been productive with 4 runs and 4 RBI.

Next: San Francisco Giants: Ty Blach, Buster Posey Power Past Cubs

It’s certainly been fun to see this team play great baseball lately against teams who are fighting for postseason positions. Hopefully this is a trend that carries through the rest of this season and into 2018.