5 SF Giants predictions for the second half of 2023

The SF Giants were once again doubted by the majority coming into the 2023 season after they failed to land any big fish this past off-season, but through the first half of the 2023 MLB season, they've shown that they're well in the fight.

5 SF Giants predictions for the second half of 2023

Despite sitting in third place in the National League West, they are just 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks as they head into the second half with a 49-41 record, and with the young talent coming through with their veterans performing, this is a team that's ready to go on a run.

So just a day away from the Giants return to action against the Pittsburgh Pirates, let's take a look at a very important stretch of games going forward with five predictions for the second half ot the season for the SF Giants.

1. One of the SF Giants top prospects gets promoted

The SF Giants have seen great, break-out performances from not only some of their veterans this year, but they have also seen the emergence of a young core that will lead them forward, led by Luis Matos, Patrick Bailey, Blake Sabol and Casey Schmitt.

Given how well they've performed and made the jump early in their careers, the Giants are now likely more confident in their young names, and with the likes of Kyle Harrison and Carson Whisenhunt starring in the minor leagues, expect at least one to make the jump late in 2023.

If the team fall out of playoff contention, the team could look to add Marco Luciano or another one of their top prospects to get a few games under their belt, but if they continue contending, expect to see another top name looking to make the jump and keep the youth movement going.

2. The SF Giants ship out a former top prospect

While fans and the organization are thrilled with the progress and impact that Bailey is making on both sides of the ball, it's come at the expense of another former top prospect in Joey Bart, whose future in San Francisco is now up in the air.

A year ago, the idea of trading Buster Posey's eventual replacement would have never entered the minds of some people, but now that Bailey and Sabol have both shown they can be crucial parts of the lineup, he becomes expendable.

In AAA since his return from injury, Bart has been on fire, hitting .247 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI in just 24 games, and with his talent behind the plate, the team could get solid value for him, so expect him to be a key piece of a potential trade.

3. The SF Giants make a small, not splashy trade for starting pitching

At this point, everyone can recognize that the Giants top need at the trade deadline is starting pitching, and with the likes of Marcus Stroman, Shane Bieber, Lucas Giolito or even Shohei Ohtani out there, there are plenty of options for the Giants.

Unfortunately, this is a team that rarely swings big trades, and while they will likely add another arm at the deadline, expect it to be a veteran name that won't win headlines around baseball as teams like the Dodgers, Yankees and Braves all make blockbuster moves.

That doesn't mean it won't be a good one, as Farhan Zaidi has made some great deadline moves over his tenure with the Giants, but don't get your hopes up on landing one of the top names available on the trade market.

4. Camilo Doval ends the year as MLB's saves leader

This season, we've seen some incredible performances up and down this roster, but no one has been as consistently dominant as Camilo Doval, as the 25-year old deservedly landed his first All-Star appearance this year, even being the winning pitcher in the NL's 3-2 victory.

In 28 save opportunities thus far, Doval is tied for the league lead with 26 alongside Jordan Romano and Alexis Diaz, and with the Rogers boys leading the way for the rest of the bullpen, this is a team that could continue dominating as the season rolls on.

Ultimately, the Giants haven't had many award winners beyond Buster Posey in recent years, but given his start to the year, his electric stuff and his confidence, this year should be a good one for the young closer as he finishes the season with the league lead in saves.

5. The SF Giants sneak their way into a Wild Card spot

No one expected the SF Giants to be competing for a playoff spot when the 2023 season began, but with solid pitching, a great bullpen and a lineup with a great mix of youth and experience, they're right in the thick of the playoff hunt at the All-Star break.

Sure, they may not have the young talent at the level of Elly De La Cruz or Corbin Carroll, and they may not possess the spending abilities of the Dodgers, but this is clearly a close-knit team, and with Gabe Kapler leading the way, there's plenty of optimism within the organization.

Against the odds in a stacked National League, this is a great opportunity for San Francisco to make some noise, and while they're not favorites for a big World Series run, they're going to get themselves a playoff spot, and as we saw in 2010, 2012 and 2014, absolutely anything can happen.