Giants Shake Up Lineup, Sit Trio of Regulars

Manager Tony Vitello hopes lineup changes will help snap 4-game skid

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:48am by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the energy and movement of the sport.A fragmented, geometric illustration captures the Giants' lineup shakeup as they aim to end their early-season struggles.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Giants, with the worst record and run differential in the National League, have shaken up their lineup for Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Manager Tony Vitello is giving outfielders Harrison Bader and Jung Hoo Lee, along with catcher Patrick Bailey, a breather, with Jared Oliva, Jerar Encarnacion, and Daniel Susac getting starts instead. The lineup changes are aimed at jumpstarting an offense that has struggled to hit good pitching, particularly fastballs.

Why it matters

The Giants' slow start has them in last place in the NL, and Vitello is hoping the lineup changes will help the team snap a 4-game losing streak and get their season back on track. The Giants have used six different lineups already this year, indicating they are searching for the right combination to spark their offense.

The details

Jared Oliva will make his first regular season start since 2021, playing center field. Jerar Encarnacion will start in right field, and Casey Schmitt will be the designated hitter against Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez. Daniel Susac will get his second big league start behind the plate, catching Robbie Ray. All three players out of the lineup are available off the bench.

  • The Giants have the worst record (3-8) and run differential (minus-27) in the National League heading into Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Jared Oliva's last start was also against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The players

Tony Vitello

The manager of the San Francisco Giants, who is shaking up the lineup in hopes of snapping a 4-game losing streak.

Harrison Bader

Giants outfielder who is being given a breather and not starting in Tuesday's game.

Jung Hoo Lee

Giants outfielder who is being given a breather and not starting in Tuesday's game.

Patrick Bailey

Giants catcher who is being given a breather and not starting in Tuesday's game.

Jared Oliva

Giants outfielder who will make his first regular season start since 2021, playing center field.

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What they’re saying

“All of our guys still feel fresh, still feel good. Everyone's a little frustrated. At times, we haven't played as well together as a group, or there's been blips where guys individually haven't done as well as they want to at this point.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

“He's just kind of jumping at the ball a little bit more than normal. You've seen him get jammed. At times it's been on pitches well off the plate – (Tim) Hill comes to mind, from the Yankees.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

The Giants will look to snap their 4-game losing streak when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

The Giants' lineup shakeup highlights the team's struggles to start the season and the urgency to find the right combination of players to spark their underperforming offense. With the season still young, these lineup changes could be the first step in getting the Giants back on track.