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Jung Hoo Lee, Casey Schmitt, and Landen Roupp are carrying the San Francisco Giants.
That’s not what anyone expected when the season began, but the three have played a pivotal role in helping Tony Vitello’s club win three consecutive series and seven of its last 10 games.
Schmitt’s go-ahead three-run home run in the Giants’ 6-3 win Sunday followed his go-ahead two-run blast in Saturday’s 6-2 victory. Lee went 9 for 12 against the Marlins and is hitting .439 in his last 15 games. Roupp is tied for the MLB lead with five wins and has posted a 2.55 ERA in 35 ⅓ innings.
The Giants are fortunate a handful of players have stepped up, because Buster Posey’s biggest additions over the last two years have all struggled — except for second baseman Luis Arráez.
Rafael Devers doubled and walked Sunday, but his .562 OPS is alarming. He’s swinging and missing at fastballs and has struck out in more than 30% of his plate appearances.
Willy Adames, who has played in all but three games over the last two years, was given the day off Sunday after his average dipped to .207 and his OPS fell to .626.
Three of the Giants’ top four free-agent additions from the offseason — Harrison Bader, Tyler Mahle, and Adrian Houser — are off to concerning starts. Bader had six hits in 52 at-bats before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Mahle has a 5.26 ERA, and Houser’s is more than two points higher at 7.36.
Since starting 3-8, the Giants have gone 10-7 and looked much more capable. Robbie Ray is pitching well, the bullpen has exceeded expectations, and Heliot Ramos and Drew Gilbert have helped turn around a dismal start for the outfield. The only thing holding the Giants back is the performance of the best players.
6 days ago
Tuesday, Jun. 2
Friday, May 29
Three weeks ago, John Shea wrote that the Giants needed their stars to look like stars. Since then, the team has improved, but most of the stars haven’t. Devers and Adames, Posey’s highest-profile acquisitions, are two of the lineup’s weakest links. Logan Webb and Matt Chapman haven’t been liabilities, but neither is playing up to expectations.
For the Giants to build on the success of the last week, they’ll need all the players Posey has acquired to join the push Lee, Schmitt, and Roupp have started. Until that happens, it will be hard for fans to dream about anything bigger than another underwhelming .500 season.
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