Giants Finish 65-97, Fourth in NL West
San Francisco closes its 2026 season with a fifth straight year out of the playoffs as Tarik Skubal's free-agent future draws attention.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Baseball
The San Francisco Giants finished the 2026 season at 65-97, placing fourth in the NL West. The club has missed the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.
Why it matters
The fifth consecutive missed postseason leaves the Giants without a playoff appearance in that span, and the team ranked 23rd in the majors in team ERA. Reporting that the Giants could pursue a top free agent such as Tarik Skubal points to how the club may try to address its pitching.
The Giants finished 65-97 and ranked 23rd in the majors in team ERA, with the club missing the postseason for a fifth straight year. Whether Tarik Skubal, who was traded to the Dodgers during 2026, will sign elsewhere has not been determined.
The players
Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal is a starting pitcher whose free-agent future has drawn interest from several major-market clubs.
Bob Nightengale
Bob Nightengale is a veteran MLB columnist for USA Today who has covered the league for decades.
The details
Bob Nightengale said on Foul Territory that he does not expect a mystery team to pursue Skubal, noting that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorite. The Giants also acquired Tony Neubeck from the Washington Nationals, and Skubal could seek a contract worth $400 million before the CBA expires on December 1.
Timeline
The Giants finished the 2026 season at 65-97, fourth in the NL West.
The Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal during the 2026 season.
Skubal could sign before the CBA expires on December 1.
Season Trajectory
The Giants' fifth straight missed postseason extends a playoff drought that now stretches across the entire recent window of the franchise's rebuilding effort. Their pursuit of a top pitcher would be a direct response to a 23rd-place team ERA that undercut their competitive standing in the NL West.
The Giants' 65-97 finish shapes their playoff math, since the NL West standings determine whether a fifth straight postseason miss is locked in. For fantasy managers, the team's 23rd-place team ERA signals a weak rotation that could affect pitcher value.
The takeaway
The Giants' struggles on the mound and five-year playoff drought show how much pitching depth decides a club's place in the NL West standings. Following the offseason will reveal whether San Francisco can turn a 65-97 season into a competitive rebuild.
What happens next
The CBA expires on December 1, a deadline that will shape when Tarik Skubal can sign with a new club.
Further reading
Keep up with the latest on the Baseball beat for San Francisco's playoff picture and offseason moves.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ClutchPoints.
