Giants crushed by A's 11-2 on July 6, 2025, as Justin Verlander's struggles worsen. Can Matt Chapman's impending return turn the tide for San Francisco?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another Bay Bridge Series game, another painful loss. The San Francisco Giants were thoroughly dismantled by the Oakland Athletics on Friday night in an 11-2 rout that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests. The loss marks the team's third straight, sinking spirits and raising serious questions about a club trying to stay afloat in the NL West race.
The loss extended Justin Verlander’s winless streak to 14 starts with San Francisco.
The hope that came with signing a future Hall of Famer has turned into a season-long nightmare. Justin Verlander's struggles were once again the main story, as he was shelled for six runs on seven hits in just three innings of work. The A's, powered by home runs from Nick Kurtz and Denzel Clarke, jumped all over him early, putting the game out of reach before the Giants' bats even had a chance to warm up. Verlander's record fell to a shocking 0-6 on the season. The offense offered little support, managing just three hits against A's starter JP Sears, with a solo homer from Brett Wisely in the eighth and an unearned run in the ninth serving as the only consolation.
Just when the mood couldn't get any lower, a major piece of good news emerged. Third baseman Matt Chapman is reportedly progressing ahead of schedule in his rehab and is nearing a return. Initially hoped to be back before the All-Star break, there's now a chance he could be activated even sooner. Described as the 'heartbeat of the team,' Chapman's Gold Glove-caliber defense and middle-of-the-order bat have been sorely missed. His return can't come soon enough to provide a much-needed jolt of energy and stability to the lineup.
While the big-league club struggles, the future continues to look bright. Top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt was officially selected to represent the Giants in the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, a testament to his development and dominant stuff. The southpaw has been mastering his breaking ball in the PCL. He's not the only one making noise down on the farm. Bryce Eldridge is showing his high-upside potential at Triple-A, while undrafted outfielder Bo Davidson continues to rake in the Northwest League. Keep an eye on right-hander Argenis Cayama, too, who is lighting up the Arizona Complex League with a mid-90s fastball.
The Giants don't have time to dwell on the loss, as they face the A's again on Sunday looking to salvage a game in the series and snap this losing skid. Young righty Hayden Birdsong (3-3, 4.30 ERA) gets the ball for San Francisco. He'll look to use his impressive strikeout stuff (62 K's in 60.2 IP) to silence the Oakland bats. He'll be opposed by Jacob Lopez (2-4, 3.89 ERA) for the A's. At 47-42, the Giants need a strong outing from Birdsong to stop the bleeding and regain some momentum.
While Friday's loss was a gut punch, the Giants have a chance to hit the reset button on Sunday. With Matt Chapman's return on the horizon and a farm system brimming with talent, the long-term outlook remains promising. First things first, however: Hayden Birdsong needs to play stopper and get the team back in the win column against the A's.
