Laying out the second half of the season for the SF Giants

Jul 13, 2023, 9:46 AM | Updated: 9:53 am

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Mike Yastrzemski #5 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates wit...

(Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The dog days of summer have arrived, meaning we are nearing crunch time in the 2023 MLB season.

August 1st’s trade deadline is quickly approaching, meaning that teams looking to push for the postseason will make bold moves, and teams destined for an early start to the offseason will sell off impact pieces as they look toward the future.

As of the All-Star break, the San Francisco Giants are positioned for a postseason push as they hold a 49-41 record, good enough to hold the third and final National League Wild Card spot.

Of course, plenty of baseball still needs to be played, but the Giants’ path to returning to October won’t be a walk in the park.

With the second half of the season set to begin on Friday, let’s map out the road ahead for San Francisco.

Current Standings

National League West

National League Wild Card

The Giants are in a three-team race for the National League West as they currently sit 2.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

San Francisco will have its chances to close the gap on Los Angeles and Arizona with these remaining games against its NL West foes:

Games remaining vs. Los Angeles: 7 (three at home, four on the road)
Games remaining vs. Arizona: 6 (four home, two on the road)

Meanwhile, the Giants’ chances at securing a Wild Card spot will hinge on their performance against the rest of the National League field. As of July 13th, San Francisco appears to be in a five-team race for three spots, while the San Diego Padres hover on the outside looking in (six games back).

There will be no shortage of meaningful games during the second half. That being said, let’s look further into the Giants’ remaining schedule.

Remaining SF Giants Schedule

Games: 72

Home: 33
Road: 39
Off-Days: 8

Key Upcoming SF Giants Series

July 17-20th: @ Cincinnati Reds
July 25-26th: vs. Oakland Athletics
July 31st-August 3rd: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
August 5-6th: @ Oakland Athletics
August 21-23rd: vs. Philadelphia Phillies
August 28-30th: vs. Cincinatti Reds
September 19-20th: @ Arizona Diamondbacks
September 21-24th: @ Los Angeles Dodgers
September 29th-October 1st: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The final stretch of the season will be crucial for San Francisco as they will play nine of its remaining 12 games against the Arizona Diamondbacks (two) and Los Angeles Dodgers (seven).

For Wild Card implications, the Giants will face the Philadelphia Phillies (three games), Cincinnati Reds (seven games), and although the San Diego Padres are currently out of the postseason picture, San Francisco will face its NL West counterpart seven times during the second half.

The Giants are currently battling injuries as second baseman Thairo Estrada (hand), Mitch Haniger (forearm), Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder), Luke Jackson (back), and John Brebbia (lat) work their way back from the injured list.

As SF gets deeper into the playoff push, one has to wonder of the Giants will be one of the more aggressive teams on the trade market come August 1st.

Are you ready for the playoff push?