So bad it's good
Giants 3, Dodgers 0
The Giants set the table for their worst hitter.
Drew Gilbert bunted two runners into scoring position in hopes that Patrick Bailey—with eight singles to his name all season—could hit a fly ball.
It’s hard to understate how bad Bailey’s been. Look through the kaleidoscope of fancy stats or simple ones and the picture looks the same.
He stepped into Wednesday with a batting average and slugging percentage of .145. His OPS+ withered down to 7, meaning he’d been 93% worse than the average hitter. Crank the Fancy Dial to 11, and you’d see he was one of two hitters with a wRC+ under 10 and isolated power (ISO) of .000.
Add it all up and it’s more than enough validation for the shock you felt when Bailey launched a lazy slider 407 feet—high enough, far enough, fast enough to be a home run in every ballpark.
Bailey’s first homer of the year was also his first extra-base hit of the year.
Even the worst hitters have their best night.
Up next: The Giants turn to Logan Webb as they try to sweep the Dodgers for the first time in three years. (What, you already forgot about the 2023 Giants? Same.) L.A. sends Tyler Glasnow to the mound for some afternoon ball. First pitch at 12:45 p.m.