Giants vs. Rockies: Who Hits Rock Bottom First?
Giants vs. Rockies: Who’s Worse? A Late-Season Showdown at Oracle Park
The Big Picture: Two Teams Racing to the Bottom
Imagine two kids running a race, but instead of trying to win, they’re both trying to see who can finish last. That’s basically the San Francisco Giants (50-71) and the Colorado Rockies (48-73) right now.
- The 2026 Giants are still “beating” the infamous 1985 Giants team that lost 100 games—meaning they probably won’t lose 100 this year.
- But hold on: the Giants’ pitching staff is held together by duct tape. Outside of their ace Logan Webb, the remaining pitchers are about to throw more innings than almost anyone in history.
- The real question: Will the Rockies finish with a worse record? It’s not a sure thing.
Important Callout
Both teams are terrible, but for different reasons. The Giants have one superstar pitcher and a broken rotation. The Rockies have a bad lineup, bad pitching, and just traded away their few good players.
Why the Schedule Might Be Tougher Than It Looks
A website called Tankathon ranks the Rockies and Giants as having the 9th and 10th toughest schedules left. But that ranking is based on current win percentages—and it’s misleading.
The Rockies’ “easy” opponents:
- Mariners (3 games)
- Orioles (3 games)
- Guardians (3 games)
- Tigers (3 games)
Plot twist: All four of those teams are in the playoff hunt or already leading their division (Detroit leads the AL Central). So “easy” on paper = actually really hard in reality.
Rockies’ Fire Sale: What They Gave Away
At the trade deadline, the Rockies waved the white flag and traded three players—guys who actually hurt the Giants in the past:
| Player | Role | Giants Killer Stats | New Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenton Doyle | Outfielder | .701 OPS vs. SF | White Sox |
| Antonio Senzatela | Starter/Reliever | 6-4, 4.93 ERA vs. SF | Brewers |
| Victor Vodnik | Reliever | 14 K in 15 IP, 2-0 vs. SF | Marlins |
Translation: The Rockies got worse on purpose. That usually means more losses coming.
The New Guy: Connor Norby
The main player the Rockies got back? Connor Norby (from the Marlins for Vodnik).
- So far: 0-for-5, 2 strikeouts.
- Career vs. Giants: .208/.250/.354 in 52 plate appearances, 17 Ks, 3 walks.
- But! He has 2 homers in 8 games at Oracle Park (.233/.294/.433 in 34 PA).
Important Callout
Small sample size alert! 34 plate appearances is like judging a chef on one bite of food. Don’t read too much into the Oracle Park “success.”
Rockies’ Hot Hitters (Since July 1st)
Since July, these Rockies have actually hit better than league average (100 wRC+ = average):
| Player | wRC+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter Goodman | 128 | Team’s best hitter |
| Kyle Karros | 123 | Currently on concussion IL |
| Jake McCarthy | 122 | |
| Cole Carrigg | 121 | |
| Mickey Moniak | 108 | 6 HR in last 32 games, but walks 4.9% / strikes out 26.2% |
Fun fact: The Rockies just gave Moniak a 2-year, $16.25M extension. They do plan on keeping someone.
Kyle Freeland: The Familiar Foe
- 33 years old, spent his whole career in Colorado.
- Was rumored to be traded—wasn’t.
- Will make his 30th career start vs. the Giants on Friday.
- Career vs. SF: 8-10, 4.41 ERA in 153 innings.
- At Oracle Park: 2-6, 3.84 ERA in 12 starts (pitches better here than overall).
Logan Webb: Mr. Inconsistent
The Giants’ ace has had a rollercoaster 2026. Check out his monthly splits:
| Month | Record | ERA | Starts | IP | K:BB Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar/Apr | 2-3 | 4.30 | 7 | 44 | 2.53 |
| May | 0-1 | 7.56 | 2 | 8.1 | 3.00 |
| June | 3-1 | 0.71 | 5 | 38 | 7.25 |
| July | 1-2 | 6.59 | 5 | 28.2 | 2.13 |
| August | 1-0 | 0.64 | 2 | 14 | 5.00 |
Translation: When Webb is on, he’s unhittable (June, August). When he’s off, he gets crushed (May, July). Saturday’s game is a coin flip.
Important Callout
K:BB Ratio = Strikeouts per Walk. Higher = better control. Webb’s 7.25 in June was elite. His 2.13 in July was meh.
Giants’ Offensive Struggles
Since August 1st, only three Giants hitters have been at or above league average (100 wRC+):
- Osleivis Basabe – 112 wRC+
- Rafael Devers – 107 wRC+
- Jung Hoo Lee – 100 wRC+ (exactly average)
Jonah Cox is back on the roster—watch how he and Victor Bericoto split playing time.
Series Details & Projected Starters
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Who | Giants (50-71) vs. Rockies (48-73) |
| Where | Oracle Park, San Francisco |
| When | Fri 7:15 PM PT / Sat 1:05 PM PT / Sun 1:05 PM PT |
| TV | No national broadcasts |
Projected Starters
| Game | Giants Starter | Rockies Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Landen Roupp (RHP, 7-11, 4.22 ERA) | Kyle Freeland (LHP, 3-10, 6.63 ERA) |
| Saturday | Logan Webb (RHP, 7-7, 3.59 ERA) | Michael Lorenzen (RHP, 3-10, 6.83 ERA) |
| Sunday | Blade Tidwell (RHP, 0-0, 2.78 ERA) | Gabriel Hughes (RHP, 0-4, 5.61 ERA) |
Key takeaway: The Rockies’ starters have ERAs near 7.00. The Giants’ pitchers aren’t great either, but Webb on Saturday is a massive advantage.
The Prediction
Giants lose 2 out of 3.
Why? Because even with better pitching matchups, the Giants’ offense has gone ice-cold, and the Rockies—despite trying to lose—still have enough pop to steal a game or two.
Summary
- Both teams are bad. Giants: 50-71. Rockies: 48-73.
- Rockies traded away veterans who hurt the Giants (Doyle, Senzatela, Vodnik).
- Schedule looks easy for Colorado but is actually full of playoff teams.
- Logan Webb is the X-factor—he’s been dominant in June and August, terrible in May and July.
- Rockies’ rotation ERAs are 6.63, 6.83, 5.61—very hittable.
- Giants only have 3 average-or-better hitters since August.
- Prediction: Giants drop 2 of 3 at home.
FAQ
1. Why should I care about a series between two last-place teams?
Because it affects draft position! The worse your record, the higher you pick in next year’s amateur draft. Also: pride, development, and evaluating young players for 2027.
2. What is wRC+?
Weighted Runs Created Plus. It measures hitting—100 is league average. 112 = 12% better than average. 91 = 9% worse. It adjusts for ballpark (Coors Field inflates stats, so Rockies hitters’ wRC+ is after that adjustment).
3. Who is Logan Webb and why does he matter?
He’s the Giants’ ace (best starting pitcher). When he pitches, the Giants have a real chance to win. He makes ~$23M/year and is the face of the franchise.
4. Why did the Rockies trade good players?
They’re “selling”—trading veterans for younger/cheaper prospects because they’re not contending. It’s a rebuild strategy.
5. What does “K:BB ratio” mean?
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio. Strikeouts (K) divided by Walks (BB). Higher = better command. 7.25 means 7.25 strikeouts for every walk. Elite pitchers are >4.0; below 2.0 is shaky.