San Francisco Giants
Record: 5-9 (T-fourth place, National League West)
The good news for the Giants is that while the team sits at 5-9, their run differential is only minus-one. That tends to imply bad luck. While it won’t always happen, bad luck often balances itself out over the course of 162 games.
Unfortunately for San Francisco and its fans, that good news is offset by the opposition. The Giants have opened 2017 with two series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and one each against the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies — otherwise known as the have-nots of the National League West.
The have-nots, however, have had their way with San Francisco.
Maybe the #giants just need better competition? For their sake, we hope so. pic.twitter.com/T3BaybZOmZ
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) April 18, 2017
Additionally, the Giants’ 5-9 mark includes a 3-0 record in games started by Johnny Cueto. Maintaining a 2-9 clip (or. 182 winning percentage) in 80 percent of the games will be highly problematic in the long term.
It’s presently too early to press the panic button. Nobody in the National League West has done much to separate themselves from the herd, so one hot streak could change everything for the Giants’ outlook.
But with two series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and another New York Mets lingering over the next month, San Francisco needs to turn things around fast. If the Giants can’t do that, they’ll be in for a long summer and will spend another odd-numbered year watching the playoffs from home.