As the San Francisco Giants are looking to string together a run of victories, they have been ranked near the bottom of nearly every MLB power ranking to start the 2026 season.
With a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday, May 4, the Giants won their third in the previous 10 games to improve to 14-21 on the season.
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It’s hasn’t been an ideal start for the Giants’ first-year skipper Tony Vitello. Vitello made MLB history when he was hired as manager by San Francisco with no prior coaching experience in the majors. He had been a standout, national championship-winning collegiate baseball coach at Tennessee.
However, through 35 games, the Giants have not looked like a team that could sneak into the wild card. It’s too early to count them out, but after a month of baseball it’s evident that something has got to give.
After a month of games, USA TODAY Sports gave the Giants a generous D+ grade for their performance. ESPN, meanwhile, gave San Francisco a D-. There’s been times when you see the vision, but too many times when they can’t get hits, can’t get runs and can’t close games. Here’s where the Giants rank in experts’ MLB power rankings:
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
GRADES: How has first-year skipper Tony Vitello done in first month?
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Giants MLB power rankings
Here’s where sports experts are ranking the Giants through the first month of baseball.
USA TODAY Sports: 28th out of 30
Gabe Lacques writes: “Willy Adames in your garden-variety 5-for-55 hole, though he did break a 54-at-bat streak without an extra-base hit.”
The Athletic: 30th out of 30
Zack Meisel writes: “(Landen) Roupp was solid in 106 innings last year, but his performance through April suggested a breakout season could be unfolding before our eyes (at least, before his dud on Saturday. Pay no attention to that). He logged a 2.55 ERA in his first six starts, averaged more than a strikeout per inning and surrendered only one home run. He limited opponents to a .149/.248/.207 slash line, which means he essentially made every hitter resemble a pitcher trying to bat, and, well, they don’t do that anymore. That’s what the universal DH is for.”
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MLB.com: 28th out of 30
Will Leitch writes: “Whatever your thoughts about manager Tony Vitello and some of the changes the Giants made this season, it is incredibly difficult to get much traction when you can’t hit. The Giants have scored the fewest runs in baseball and have been shut out seven times, two more than any other MLB team. This is not the division in which you can get away with that.”
CBS Sports: 28th out of 30
Matt Snyder writes: “Last week, I noted that the Giants finally showed a pulse. Well, we’ve now lost that pulse. They’ve lost six in a row.”
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Bleacher Report: 28th out of 30
Kerry Miller writes: “‘Twas a brutal East Coast road trip for the Giants, whose well-compensated bats continue to be M.I.A. They averaged 1.5 runs per game and didn’t hit a single home run while getting swept by both the Phillies and Rays, losing three of those six games in walk-off fashion. Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman and Willy Adames went a combined 9-for-66 (.136 AVG) with two runs and two RBI. Change needs to start there.”
NBC Sports: 30th out of 30
D.J. short writes: “The Giants have been swept by the Phillies and the Rays over the past week and have scored the fewest runs of any team in baseball. They’ve scored 12 fewer runs than the next-closest team, the Mets. The Giants are calling up prospects Bryce Eldridge and Jesus Rodriguez in hopes of giving a jolt to their beleaguered offense.”
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ESPN: 23rd out of 30 (as of Apr. 30
Alden Gonzalez writes: “There was a lot of consternation about the Giants, their offense and rookie manager Tony Vitello early on, when the first 11 games resulted in eight losses and few runs. Since then they’ve been, well, fine, suffering a four-game losing streak but also two separate three-game winning streaks. Logan Webb has been just OK in his starts, Rafael Devers has yet to get going offensively and Patrick Bailey, their brilliant defensive catcher, has been one of baseball’s worst hitters. Assuming those things correct themselves — and Harrison Bader gets back to who he’s supposed to be when he returns off the IL — perhaps Vitello’s Giants will contend.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco Giants nearing bottom of sports experts’ power rankings