SF Giants news: Wild Card hopes, Eldridge, turning an eye towards 2026

The SF Giants salvaged their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers by taking the finale in the four-game series. They still have a slim chance for the NL Wild Card as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals tonight.

SF Giants news: Wild Card, Eldridge, 2026

NL Wild Card hopes

The Giants find themselves three games back of both the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card standings. They are also two games behind the oft-overlooked Arizona Diamondbacks so they would need an absolute miracle to pass all three of those teams with six games left especially since both New York and Arizona have the tiebreaker over the Giants.

It seems like the Giants will miss the playoffs yet again which means it will be four consecutive seasons in which they have missed the playoffs. That is unfortunate, but they still have some things to get excited about in this final week of the season.

Bryce Eldridge

After a bit of a slow start, top prospect Bryce Eldridge got his first big-league hit over the weekend. It was a bases-clearing double off the wall and it was pretty cool that it came against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

He is still just 1-for-15 to start his major league career, but expect to see him get a lot more at-bats in these final two series especially since the Giants are now basically out of the playoff race. He should get more opportunities at first base where he made a great play on Sunday.

Turning ahead to 2026

With the Giants out of it, do not be surprised if some younger players get more playing time in this final week as the team turns towards 2026. Robbie Ray has looked gassed in the second half so maybe the Giants could have Carson Whisenhunt start in his place.

Matt Chapman has been banged up a lot this year so maybe the team can move Casey Schmitt over there and have Christian Koss play second base a little more.

Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos have played a lot this season so do not be surprised if Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray get more playing time to give those guys a rest.

It stinks that the Giants will most likely not be playing meaningful baseball in this final week, but it will still be fun to see Eldridge debut at Oracle Park and see some other younger guys get opportunities.

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