Giants Awarded 'F' Grade in Early 2026 Season

San Francisco's struggling start has them at the bottom of the NL West

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:05am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented baseball game or players, with the vibrant colors of the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers uniforms overlapping in sharp, angular planes.The Giants' early-season struggles have them falling behind the dominant Dodgers in the NL West race.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Giants have gotten off to a dismal 8-12 start to the 2026 MLB season, prompting Bleacher Report to award them an 'F' grade through the first 20 games. With their rotation struggling and a 7.5-game deficit to the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants are already facing an uphill battle in the highly competitive NL West.

Why it matters

The Giants' poor start is a disappointment for a team that had high expectations coming into the season. Their inability to keep pace with the Dodgers early on raises questions about whether they can turn things around and compete for a playoff spot, or if they may need to shift focus to the future by potentially trading away assets at the midseason deadline.

The details

The Giants' rotation has been a major issue, with Logan Webb, Tyler Mahle, and Adrian Houser all posting ERAs over 5.00 to start the year. Rookie Landen Roupp has been a bright spot with a 2.38 ERA and 3-1 record, but he may end up as a trade chip if the Giants continue to struggle. Offensively, shortstop Willy Adames has been a lone bright spot, leading the team in doubles and home runs.

  • The Giants have played through the first 20 games of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Logan Webb

A starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who has struggled with a high ERA to start the 2026 season.

Tyler Mahle

A starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who has also had issues with his ERA in the early part of the 2026 season.

Adrian Houser

Another San Francisco Giants starting pitcher who has not found success on the mound to begin the 2026 campaign.

Landen Roupp

A rookie pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who has been a bright spot with a 2.38 ERA and 3-1 record to start the season.

Willy Adames

The Giants' starting shortstop, who has been the team's top offensive performer so far in 2026 with 10 doubles and 3 home runs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Giants will need to turn things around quickly if they want to have any chance of competing in the NL West this season. Their next opportunity to gain ground on the Dodgers will come when the two teams meet for a series in late May.

The takeaway

The Giants' disastrous start to the 2026 season has them in a deep hole in the NL West, raising questions about whether they have the pitching and offensive firepower to bounce back and compete for a playoff spot. Their struggles have already earned them an 'F' grade, and they'll need to make significant improvements to avoid another lost season.