Giants hoping for bounce-back series against Orioles

Jun 2, 2023, 8:46 AM | Updated: 8:47 am

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Casey Schmitt #6 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after hitti...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Things looked bleak for the San Francisco Giants on May 14th.

Following a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Giants fell to a season-worst six games below the .500 mark as they struggled to string together wins.

Fast-forward to June 2nd, San Francisco is 28-28 on the year, sitting just one-half game back of a National League Wild Card spot.

Since May 15th, the Giants have posted an 11-5 record while winning four of their previous five series thanks to an improved offense (.271 team batting average) and dialed-in pitching staff (2.98 team ERA).

The vibes. The vibes are good. pic.twitter.com/D280cI0DGZ

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 29, 2023

Even though San Francisco dropped a three-game set to the Pittsburgh Pirates to start the week, the vibes are still high around this team as they prepare to open up a series against the up-and-coming Baltimore Orioles at Oracle Park on Friday night.

This isn’t your average Orioles team–a franchise that has missed the postseason six seasons straight. Instead, Baltimore holds a 35-21 record entering play on Friday–the third-best record in Major League Baseball.

The Giants will send its top three arms to the mound to combat Baltimore’s offense as Rocklin’s Logan Webb will take the ball on Friday night, seeking his seventh-straight start allowing two runs or less.

Here’s how the series against Baltimore is shaping up for both teams on the hill:

Friday, June 2nd – Logan Webb (4-5, 2.75 ERA) vs. Dean Kremer (5-2, 4.58 ERA) – 7:15 PM PST

Saturday, June 3rd – Alex Cobb (4-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Kyle Bradish (2-1, 3.89 ERA) – 7:05 PM PST

Sunday, June 4th – Anthony DeSclafani (4-4, 3.48 ERA) vs. Tyler Wells (3-2, 3.29 ERA) – 1:05 PM PST

Who’s Hot?

Patrick Bailey has raked since being called up on May 18th. The catcher is hitting .333 with two home runs and 12 RBI while posting a .914 on-base plus slugging percentage over 11 games.

Fellow former Sacramento River Cats product Casey Schmitt hasn’t slowed since bursting onto the scene just three weeks ago. The 24-year-old is hitting .325 with two home runs and 16 RBI over 22 appearances.

Mitch Haniger is batting .400 with two home runs and eight RBI over the past six games.

Michael Conforto avoided a severe injury to his heel after imaging came back clean, and that’s a good thing for San Francisco. Conforto has been the Giants’ best hitter for the past couple of weeks as the All-Star is hitting .393 with six home runs and 16 RBI while posting a .427 on-base percentage since May 16th.

It’s unknown if Conforto will be sidelined for an extended period to alleviate pain in his heel, but expect San Francisco to be cautious with the slugger.