{"id":499775,"date":"2026-10-18T02:36:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499775\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T02:36:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:36:11","slug":"projecting-the-san-francisco-giants-2027-opening-day-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499775\/","title":{"rendered":"Projecting the San Francisco Giants 2027 Opening Day Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9u\">The San Francisco Giants can already fill out a plausible 2027 Opening Day lineup. They still have several jobs to settle before manager Tony Vitello can write one with confidence.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9z\">This first projection uses players currently in the organization and assumes the projected starters are healthy for Opening Day. It represents one possible batting order against a right-handed starter. Second base, left field and catcher remain competitive assignments, while the first base\/DH distribution also needs clarification.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a4\">Offseason additions, trades and medical updates will determine how much of this first version survives.<\/p>\n<p>Version 1.0: The Projected Batting Order<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m55gbkjr7yr1qnparg.jpg\" alt=\"San Francisco Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) in the batting cage before the game.\" title=\"San Francisco Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) in the batting cage before the game.\" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"al\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Francisco Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p>Order<\/p>\n<p>Player<\/p>\n<p>Position<\/p>\n<p>Projection Status<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>Jung Hoo Lee<\/p>\n<p>RF<\/p>\n<p>Regular; leadoff provisional<\/p>\n<p>2<\/p>\n<p>Bryce Eldridge<\/p>\n<p>1B<\/p>\n<p>Regular bat; 1B\/DH split open<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p>\n<p>Rafael Devers<\/p>\n<p>DH<\/p>\n<p>Health-dependent; role split open<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Willy Adames<\/p>\n<p>SS<\/p>\n<p>Expected starter<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p>\n<p>Matt Chapman<\/p>\n<p>3B<\/p>\n<p>Health-dependent<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p>\n<p>Casey Schmitt<\/p>\n<p>2B<\/p>\n<p>Open competition; knee recovery<\/p>\n<p>7<\/p>\n<p>Bo Davidson<\/p>\n<p>LF<\/p>\n<p>Open competition<\/p>\n<p>8<\/p>\n<p>Harrison Bader<\/p>\n<p>CF<\/p>\n<p>Conditional to foot recovery<\/p>\n<p>9<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Susac<\/p>\n<p>C<\/p>\n<p>Health-dependent; open competition<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"av\">Eldridge\u2019s .269\/.364\/.461 line in 2026 supports an early spot in the order. Batting him second would put his ability to reach base directly ahead of Devers. Lee gets the first look atop this version, although a stronger on-base option arriving this winter could change that choice.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b0\">A left-handed opposing starter could give Victor Bericoto\u2019s right-handed bat more relevance in the outfield mix. Matchups could also change the leadoff choice and how Vitello arranges the middle of the order.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b5\">The first-base assignment gives Eldridge regular defensive work while Devers receives most DH starts. San Francisco could continue rotating those responsibilities. Adames remains the expected shortstop.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ba\">The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/giants\/onsi\/rafael-devers-recovery-timeline-emerges-after-season-ending-surgery\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">recovery outlook for Devers and Chapman<\/a>\u00a0supports including both veterans: each is expected back for spring training. Their presence here still assumes rehabilitation proceeds without a setback.<\/p>\n<p>Where the Projection Can Change<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m55gdwjwhcnsm64t79.jpg\" alt=\"San Francisco Giants shortstop Casey Schmitt against the Arizona Diamondbacks.\" title=\"San Francisco Giants shortstop Casey Schmitt against the Arizona Diamondbacks.\" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"br\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bx\">Second base:\u00a0Schmitt gets the initial nod after hitting .271\/.301\/.483 with 21 home runs in 2026. His knee recovery and Marcelo Mayer\u2019s readiness keep the competition open. Our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/giants\/onsi\/the-giants-player-whose-trade-value-may-never-be-higher-and-why-they-should-trade-him\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Schmitt trade analysis<\/a>also explains why a pitching acquisition could remove him from this group. Mayer would receive a clearer opportunity if Schmitt moves, but he must earn regular work.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c2\">Left field:\u00a0Davidson\u2019s 29 minor league home runs give him a case for an extended opportunity. His brief Major League experience leaves the job open, with Drew Gilbert and Bericoto among the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/giants\/onsi\/three-internal-candidates-solve-one-giants-biggest-problems\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">internal outfield alternatives<\/a>. A veteran addition could change the assignment or create a platoon.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c7\">Bader remains under contract and is expected to be ready for spring training. His foot recovery makes center field conditional, however. Gilbert and Jonah Cox provide alternatives if Bader cannot handle the position regularly.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cc\">Catcher:\u00a0Susac\u2019s defensive work gives him a case for the first opportunity, provided his knee is ready for regular catching. He is recovering from a fractured left kneecap, and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/giants\/onsi\/giants-arent-set-catcher-even-with-emergence-now-injured-daniel-susac\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">catching job remains unsettled<\/a>. Drew Cavanaugh and Jes\u00fas Rodr\u00edguez remain alternatives. Medical clearance, defense and work with the pitching staff should shape that decision.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ch\">The next version should follow significant position-player additions, trades, non-tenders or changes in a projected starter\u2019s health. Those developments could alter both the nine names and their batting order.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:click=\"q-DZGOBo6r.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"cn\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The San Francisco Giants can already fill out a plausible 2027 Opening Day lineup. They still have several&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499776,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[101,103,102,104,106,105],"class_list":["post-499775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco-headlines","tag-san-francisco-news","tag-sf","tag-sf-headlines","tag-sf-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/499776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}