Giants Rely on Luis Arraez and Casey Schmitt Amid Struggles

Luis Arraez is the lone bright spot for a San Francisco Giants team that has struggled through the first six weeks of the season, posting a 14-23 record that matches the worst in the National League. Arraez is batting .316 with a .340 on-base percentage and a .398 slugging mark, while striking out just six times in 144 plate appearances.

Arraez’s defensive resurgence at second base has been even more surprising. Statcast credits him with nine Outs Above Average, the best among MLB second basemen. Defensive Runs Saved has him at +5, tied for best in the National League and second overall behind Seattle’s Cole Young. He has recorded 110 assists and notched 300 innings without an error.

Despite Arraez’s strong performance, the Giants have lost eight of their last nine games and sit nine games below .500. They trail the NL West’s Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres by a wide margin and face a congested NL Central where all teams are above .500.

Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle notes that Arraez could become a valuable trade asset by the July deadline. The Giants signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal, and if he maintains his defensive excellence, he could be a candidate for a qualifying offer ahead of his age-30 season.

Meanwhile, Casey Schmitt has emerged as the Giants’ best offensive player with a .296/.344/.539 line and six home runs, twice as many as any other player on the roster. Schmitt has started the last two games at second base while Arraez recovers from a bruised thumb, and the team is considering moving him to the outfield.

Manager Tony Vitello said Schmitt is “athletic enough to handle the corner outfield,” though the move will be handled “intelligently.” Schmitt has no outfield experience in his professional career but has shown versatility across the infield and could provide a much-needed offensive spark.

With Harrison Bader sidelined by injury and Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos underperforming in the outfield, the Giants may soon give Schmitt a chance in center or right field. The team continues to monitor its options as it aims to climb out of its early-season hole.

The Giants will face the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend, where Arraez is expected to return at second base. The team’s next decision point will come as it weighs trade options and possible lineup adjustments ahead of the July 31 deadline.