Padres and Giants Collide in NL West as Both Seek to Reverse Slumps

Key facts

• Padres (20-13) are second in NL West, half a game behind the Dodgers.
• Giants (13-21) have lost six in a row, tied for third-worst record in MLB.
• Giants called up top prospect Bryce Eldridge and C/3B prospect Jesus Rodriguez.
• Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (3-0, 2.94 ERA) starts Monday; Giants RHP Trevor McDonald makes season debut.
• Giants have minus-34 run differential, second worst in majors ahead of Phillies (minus-43).
• Padres 3B Manny Machado has three homers and 1.226 OPS over the last week.
• Giants have no home runs over the last week and only two hitters with OPS over.680.

Two Teams Searching for Momentum

The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants open a three-game series at Oracle Park on Monday night, each desperate to reverse recent trends. The Padres, 20-13 and second in the NL West, snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Giants, 13-21 and last in the division, have lost six straight and are tied with the Boston Red Sox for the third-worst record in Major League Baseball. San Francisco's minus-34 run differential is the second worst in the majors, ahead of only the Philadelphia Phillies at minus-43. The team has not hit a home run in the last week and has scored just nine runs during its six-game losing streak, which included a winless road trip to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.

Pitching Matchup: Vásquez vs. McDonald

The Padres will start right-hander Randy Vásquez, who is 3-0 with a 2.94 ERA this season. San Diego has won all six of his starts, though Vásquez allowed five runs in five innings in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs. He has a 34-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 33⅔ innings and will face the Giants for the first time in his career. The Giants counter with right-hander Trevor McDonald, making his season debut after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. The 25-year-old has a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings since his MLB debut in 2024, including two starts last September in which he allowed one earned run over 13 innings. McDonald had a 5.40 ERA in 15 innings at Triple-A this year. He has never faced the Padres.

Offensive Woes and Bright Spots

San Diego's offense has been inconsistent, scoring four runs or fewer in five straight games. Third baseman Manny Machado has been a standout, hitting three home runs with a 1.226 OPS over the last week, while third baseman Miguel Andujar has two homers and a.984 OPS in that span. However, second baseman Jake Cronenworth is 1-for-15 with a.192 OPS, and outfielders Jackson Merrill (.509 OPS) and Ramón Laureano (.426 OPS) are in deep slumps. San Francisco's lineup has struggled mightily, ranking 29th in OPS (.642) over the last week. The only two hitters with an OPS above.680 are designated hitter Casey Schmitt (.810) and outfielder Heliot Ramos (.725). The Giants have no home runs in the past seven days.

Bullpen Performances Diverge

The Padres bullpen has been a mixed bag. Right-handers Jason Adam (2.70 ERA) and Jeremiah Estrada (0.00 ERA) have been effective over the last week, while right-hander Ron Marinaccio (10.38 ERA) and left-hander Kyle Hart (10.80 ERA) have struggled. Closer Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 11th save on Sunday, striking out the side in the ninth inning against the White Sox. The Giants bullpen ranks second in MLB with a 3.01 ERA, led by left-hander Matt Gage (1.29 ERA in 16 appearances) and right-handers Caleb Kilian (0.60 ERA), Ryan Walker (4.61 ERA) and Keaton Winn (2.63 ERA). The team's rotation ERA is 4.37, 20th in the majors.

Roster Moves and Managerial Decisions

The Giants called up top prospect Bryce Eldridge and catcher/third baseman prospect Jesus Rodriguez from the minors, hoping to inject life into a lineup that has been stagnant. Rookie manager Tony Vitello has not announced starters for the second and third games of the series, leaving the rotation in flux after a rainout-induced doubleheader in Philadelphia. For the Padres, right-hander Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Buehler opened the season against the Giants, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in four innings. He has not allowed a home run since that start. Right-hander Matt Waldron (0-1, 9.88 ERA) is likely for Wednesday; he has a 1.65 ERA in 16⅓ career innings against San Francisco.

Stakes and Outlook for the Series

The Padres enter the series half a game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, while the Giants are already 8.5 games back. San Diego dropped two of three to the Giants in the second series of the season at Petco Park, so San Francisco will aim to replicate that success at home. For the Giants, the losing streak has taken a mental toll. Vitello acknowledged that confidence becomes a challenge when results are not there. The team's inability to hit home runs and its poor run differential underscore the need for a turnaround. The series opener Monday night at 6:45 p.m. PT will be broadcast on Padres.TV.

The bottom line

• The Padres and Giants are both in slumps, but San Diego's is shorter and less severe.
• Randy Vásquez has been a reliable starter for the Padres, with a 3-0 record and 2.94 ERA.
• Giants rookie Trevor McDonald makes his season debut after a strong MLB debut in 2024.
• Manny Machado is hot, but several Padres hitters are slumping, including Cronenworth, Merrill, and Laureano.
• The Giants have not hit a home run in a week and have the second-worst run differential in MLB.
• San Francisco's bullpen is a strength, but the rotation and lineup need improvement.