Projecting SF Giants Opening Night lineup against New York Yankees lefty Max Fried

The SF Giants are going to take on the New York Yankees on Opening Night next Wednesday, March 25th. Let’s try and project what the lineup will look like going up against left-handed ace Max Fried.

Projected SF Giants lineup for Opening Night

2B Luis Arraez

The Giants signed three-time batting champ Luis Arraez not knowing exactly where he would fit into the order. There’s a case to be made that he could be the leadoff hitter, but there’s also a case to be made that he’d be better suited for the No. 3 or No. 5 spot in the order where he could drive in runs with his contact bat. 

He has a career slash line of .332/.375/.437 against righties and a career slash line of .274/.328/.345 against lefties but maybe putting him atop the order could get Fried out of the game quicker by driving up his pitch count a bit. He is also 4-for-11 against Fried in his career with four singles.

SS Willy Adames

Adames is coming off the first 30-homer season by a Giant since Barry Bonds did it in 2004. Bonds will be in attendance for the game as an analyst on the Netflix broadcast so maybe Adames can try get started on another 30-homer season. Adames has two doubles in six at-bats against Fried.

1B Rafael Devers 

Devers has typically done well against left-handed pitching in his career. The Giants are counting on him to power the offense this season even though he had a rough start to spring training and dealt with a hamstring issue. Devers has three hits in nine career at-bats against Fried including one home run.

3B Matt Chapman 

Chapman has been one of the hottest hitters in spring training for the Giants. He did the same thing last season and followed it with a cold April so he will be looking to avoid a repeat of that.

LF Heliot Ramos

Finally, the Giants may break the Barry Bonds curse. The team has had a different Opening Day left fielder every season since Bonds’ last year with the team but Ramos can end that streak as he was the Opening Day left fielder last year. 

RF Jung Hoo Lee

In what will be Jung Hoo Lee’s first regular season action in right field at Oracle Park, he may have to adjust to batting further down the lineup. He has been the leadoff hitter in the past and he was the No. 3 hitter in the order at times last season, but maybe there will be less pressure if he bats in the sixth or seventh spot in the order.

CF Harrison Bader

The Giants brought in Bader largely because of his defense, but he is coming off the best offensive year of his career in 2025 so maybe he can keep it going in 2026.

DH Jerar Encarnacion

Despite a rough start, Encarnacion has completely flipped the script and is on a tear in spring training. With Bryce Eldridge’s demotion, Encarnacion is likely to make the team and, as a right-handed slugger, would make sense to go up against Fried.

C Patrick Bailey

He’s always been known more for his defense, but maybe this is the year Bailey can prove that he can be a consistent offensive producer.