Giants’ Acceptable Road Trip Not Enough in Competitive Season
In a season filled with ups and downs, the San Francisco Giants have managed to stay afloat. But as they return home from a 4-2 road trip, they know that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
Manager Bob Melvin summed it up best when he said, “Normally, you think a 4-2 trip is not a bad trip, but in our position right now, we have to win more games than that.” And he’s right. The Giants do not exist in a vacuum, and in a competitive season, every game matters.
Now, as they enter their most important homestand of the season, the Giants are facing a tough challenge. They will be facing the surging Arizona Diamondbacks, who are making their own late push for the final wild card spot. And then, they will have to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently clinging to the division lead.
It’s a crucial moment for the Giants, who are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. And with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers both playing at the top of their game, the Giants will have to bring their A-game if they want to come out on top.
But in a season filled with surprises and unexpected twists, anything can happen. And the Giants are determined to make the most of this homestand and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. So buckle up, Giants fans, because this is going to be one intense and crucial homestand.
San Francisco Giants’ Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance After Tough Loss to Cardinals
Relief Pitcher Jose Butto Struggles in Crucial Game Against St. Louis
By Justice Delos Santos | jdelossantos@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
UPDATED: September 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM PDT
ST. LOUIS – The San Francisco Giants’ playoff hopes took a hit on Sunday as they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a crucial game at Busch Stadium. Relief pitcher Jose Butto struggled, giving up an RBI single to Ivan Herrera in the fifth inning, ultimately leading to a 4-3 loss for the Giants.
Despite a successful road trip with four wins and two losses, the Giants know that they cannot afford to just be “acceptable” at this point in the season. With only 19 games remaining and a record of 72-71, they need to win more games to stay in the hunt for the final NL wild card spot.
“Normally, you think a 4-2 trip is not a bad trip, but in our position right now, we have to win more games than that,” said manager Bob Melvin. “After winning the first game, winning one of these next two was important. But, go home and play well again.”
The Giants now face their most important homestand of the season, with three games against the surging Arizona Diamondbacks and three games against the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. They have revived their playoff hopes over the last two-and-a-half weeks, winning 11 of their last 15 games, but a good homestand is crucial to their chances of making it to the postseason.
“We battled our (butts) off yesterday and today and came up short, but we still got a chance,” said third baseman Matt Chapman. “We didn’t think we’d be in this position probably two weeks ago, but here we are. We still have a really good opportunity in front of us. It stings. The last two days suck, but we’ll be ready tomorrow.”
Chapman also acknowledged that the Giants need to rely on other teams to lose in order to improve their chances, but they are determined to control their own destiny as much as possible.
“We have a lot of big games coming up. A lot of good stuff can happen still. We saw how fast things can change in a couple weeks. So, that’s kind of the mindset. We still control our own destiny.”
However, the Giants may have to face the Dodgers without Chapman, as he has a virtual hearing with Major League Baseball on Thursday regarding his one-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing incident with the Colorado Rockies last Tuesday.
