Padres and Giants Prepare for Key Series Amidst Injuries and Struggles

San Diego, California — The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants are set to face off in a crucial four-game series starting Monday, June 5, 2025, at Petco Park. The Padres currently hold a record of 33-24, sitting in second place in the National League West, while the Giants are at 33-26, in third place.

The Padres have been on a roll, winning three consecutive series and staying two games back of the division-leading Dodgers. After recently sweeping the Giants in a two-game series, the Padres hope to build on their success. They outscored the Giants 12-7 in April, but have struggled offensively since a historic 21-0 win over the Rockies. The team has managed just an average of .209 at the plate over their last 19 games, ranking last in the majors with a .611 OPS during this stretch.

Only third baseman Manny Machado has stood out offensively, with an OPS of .827. Meanwhile, key players like shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. are batting under .600, which poses a concern for the Padres as they look to solidify their playoff aspirations.

The Giants, on the other hand, have struggled recently as well, losing six of their last ten games. They rank sixth in the majors with a +42 run differential but have not scored more than four runs in a game since May 16. Outfielder Heliot Ramos and third baseman Matt Chapman show promise with OPS figures above .800, but many key contributors are faltering offensively.

As the teams prepare to take the field, the starting pitchers have been announced. Padres right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-1, 4.11 ERA) takes the mound against Giants right-hander Logan Webb (5-5, 2.82 ERA) on Monday. Kolek has struggled since a standout performance, but has been effective away from Petco Park.

Webb, who was a Cy Young runner-up in 2023, has been solid but has allowed six runs in his last ten innings of work. The Giants will look to him to turn things around as they aim to gain ground on the Padres.

Injuries are affecting both teams. The Padres are monitoring outfielder Gavin Sheets, who left last game due to a collision, while right-hander Yu Darvish remains sidelined with an elbow issue. For the Giants, starter Justin Verlander is yet to return from a pec injury, adding to their pitching uncertainties. As both teams vie for playoff positioning, this series could be pivotal in the standings.