The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs are squaring off in a late-summer showdown that’s got baseball fans on the edge of their seats. Coming into Thursday’s matinee at Oracle Park, the Giants hold a 4-1 lead in the season series, and momentum is clearly on their side after a commanding 12-3 victory on Wednesday night. With both clubs battling for playoff positioning—Chicago sitting at 76-57, second in the NL Central, and San Francisco at 65-68, third in the NL West—every pitch counts as the regular season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion.
Wednesday’s contest was a showcase for Giants slugger Rafael Devers, who put on a power display for the ages. Devers homered twice and doubled in a run, racking up five RBIs in a performance that left Cubs pitching reeling. His solo shot in the first inning set the tone, and a three-run blast in the sixth put the game out of reach. According to the Associated Press, this marked Devers’ 21st career multihomer game, his third of 2025, and his second since being traded from Boston to San Francisco in mid-June. The Giants’ front office has to be feeling good about that midseason acquisition.
Devers’ recent surge has been nothing short of remarkable. As of August 28, he’s carrying a .258 batting average, 27 home runs, 92 walks, and 89 RBIs. In the words of the AP, "Devers homered twice and doubled in a run on the way to five RBIs." He’s not the only Giant heating up, either. Jung Hoo Lee has strung together a solid stretch, going 11-for-40 with three doubles, a home run, and an RBI over his last 10 games. Add in the contributions of Matt Chapman, who reached a major milestone with his 200th career home run on Wednesday, and it’s clear the Giants’ lineup is clicking at the right time.
Chapman’s night didn’t end with his historic homer. He also delivered an RBI single in the fifth, a play that spiraled out of control for the Cubs when right fielder Kyle Tucker airmailed a throw over home plate, letting a second run score. Casey Schmitt followed with an RBI single, capping a rally that put the Giants firmly in command. Heliot Ramos joined the party by launching a home run of his own, while Willy Adames and Dominic Smith each chipped in with sacrifice flies in the third inning. The Giants are finding offense up and down the lineup—a promising sign as they try to chase down a playoff spot in the competitive National League.
On the mound, Giants rookie Carson Whisenhunt earned his second big league win, working five innings of three-run ball in just his fifth career start. Whisenhunt, who was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento less than a week ago, showed poise beyond his years. He wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first by inducing an inning-ending double play from Cubs catcher Carson Kelly, and he repeated the feat in the fifth, this time getting veteran Justin Turner to bounce into another twin killing. According to the AP, "Whisenhunt escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when he induced Carson Kelly's inning-ending double play. Then in the fifth he worked out of another bases-loaded situation, this time getting Justin Turner to ground into a double play to end the inning." The Giants’ bullpen kept the Cubs at bay the rest of the way, sealing San Francisco’s fourth straight win.
For Chicago, it was a night to forget. Right-hander Colin Rea, who had allowed two or fewer runs in four straight outings this month, was tagged for a season-high in runs and took his first loss of August. The Cubs’ lone highlight came courtesy of Nico Hoerner, who blasted a three-run homer in the second inning, briefly giving Chicago hope before the Giants’ bats took over. Kyle Tucker continues to be a steady presence in the Cubs’ lineup, sporting a .263 average with 21 home runs, 82 walks, and 69 RBIs on the year. Michael Busch has also been productive, going 9-for-34 with three doubles and six RBIs over his last 10 games.
Injuries have been a subplot for both teams as the grind of the season wears on. The Giants are without Randy Rodriguez (elbow), Landen Roupp (knee), Erik Miller (elbow), Jerar Encarnacion (hamstring), and Tom Murphy (back). The Cubs, meanwhile, are missing Jameson Taillon (groin), Ryan Brasier (groin), Miguel Amaya (ankle), Mike Soroka (shoulder), Eli Morgan (elbow), and Justin Steele (elbow). With September looming, both clubs are hoping for reinforcements—and a little luck on the health front.
Recent trends suggest the Giants are heating up at the perfect time. Over their last 10 games, they’ve posted a 6-4 record, batting .235 with a 3.65 ERA and outscoring opponents by 10 runs. San Francisco has outscored its foes 28-9 during the current four-game winning streak, and they’ve homered in 10 straight games, launching 20 long balls in that span. The Cubs, for their part, are 6-4 in their last 10 but have been outscored by three runs and are batting just .213 as a team. Their pitching staff has a 3.99 ERA over that stretch.
Thursday’s series finale sets up a tantalizing pitching matchup: Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-6, 3.03 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 90 strikeouts) takes the ball against Giants All-Star righty Logan Webb (12-9, 3.13 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 180 strikeouts). The betting line favors the Giants slightly at -118, with the Cubs at -102 and an over/under of seven runs. With both teams eyeing the postseason and every game carrying extra weight, expect a tense, tightly contested affair.
There’s no shortage of storylines as these two clubs wrap up their season series. The Giants have already clinched the season set, winning four of the first five meetings, including two of three at Wrigley Field back in May. For the Cubs, Thursday’s game is a chance to salvage a bit of pride and keep pace in the NL Central race. For the Giants, it’s about extending their hot streak and keeping the playoff dream alive.
As first pitch approaches, all eyes are on Oracle Park. Will the Giants’ power surge continue? Can the Cubs’ pitching staff bounce back and quiet San Francisco’s bats? With the postseason picture still taking shape, every inning matters. Baseball fans won’t want to miss a moment as these two storied franchises battle it out by the Bay.
