September 26, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) celebrates his first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field Solo home run. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants will find themselves looking at a potential difference-maker for the future when Paul Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals visit Friday night to begin their final three games of the regular season.
Neither the Giants (79-80) nor the Cardinals (81-78) will be participating in next week's playoffs, so each team enters the head-to-head matchup with the same goal: finish above .500.
After going 7-2 on the road in Baltimore, Kansas City and Arizona, the Giants find themselves needing to sweep the series to finish above .500 for the first time since 2021.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, need just one win to break even for the 16th time in the last 17 years.
Goldschmidt hasn't been a big contributor to the Cardinals' 7-3 record, going just 6-for-32 in his past eight games. He hit his first home run since Sept. 3 in Thursday's 10-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
The 37-year-old is now just three games away from hitting free agency, and his slump couldn't have come at a worse time.
Goldschmidt entered the series with 22 home runs and was hitting a career-low .241, his lowest mark in a non-COVID season since 2014. The fewest since his rookie season in 2011, again not including the shortened 2020 season.
The 14-year veteran gave no details about his impending free agency, saying only that he hopes to be offered a contract.
“I want to compete next year,” Goldschmidt said. “In fact, I don't have any thoughts beyond that. I owe it to this team and this organization to give everything they've put into this year, and that's 100 percent what I'm thinking.”
Given his experience in San Francisco, Giants management may be willing to give up 2024 numbers. After all, he hit .331 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 82 visits to Oracle Park.
Since his debut in 2011, Goldschmidt leads all San Francisco visitors in doubles, home runs and RBIs. His batting average is the highest among all visiting players with more than 125 appearances.
According to Giants All-Star pitcher Logan Webber, perhaps the best thing his team can do in the final series is to give up a triple to Goldschmidt, and Friendly third baseman Matt Chapman is waiting for Goldschmidt.
“I don't know if you've noticed this, but (Chapman) is saying hello to everyone who comes into third base,” Weber said of his recently extended teammate. “Every player goes out of his way to say something about him. Maybe it's a small thing. But I think it's important for us going into the offseason going forward.”
Entering the series, the Giants were tied with the Chicago White Sox for the fewest home runs in the majors with 64 home runs this season.
Trying to extend the Giants' home blackout in the series opener is Cardinals right-hander Myles Mikolas (9-11, 5.35 ERA), who will pitch for the third time in his career Seeking double-digit wins for the first time. The 36-year-old has a 4-1 record with a 2.88 ERA in nine career games against the Giants, including five starts.
The Giants will go against right winger Landon Rupp (1-1, 2.70), who has been outstanding since becoming the starter earlier this month.
Rupp, 26, allowed just two runs and 10 hits in 15 innings. He has yet to face the Cardinals in his career.
–Scene-level media