All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB z-Philadelphia 92 63 .594 — New York 86 69 .555 6 Atlanta 84 71 .542 8 Washington 69 86 .445 23 Miami 57 98 .368 35 Central Division W L Pct GB x-Milwaukee 88 66 .571 — Chicago 79 76 .510 9½ St. Louis 77 77 .500 11 Cincinnati 76 80 .487 13 Pittsburgh 72 83 .465 16½ West Division W L Pct GB z-Los Angeles 92 62 .597 — San Diego 88 66 .571 4 Arizona 86 68 .558 6 San Francisco 76 79 .490 16½ Colorado 59 95 .383 33 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 3, Washington 1 Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 3 Miami 4, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 12, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 5, St. Louis 1 San Francisco 2, Kansas City 1 Arizona 7, Milwaukee 4 L.A.

If Snell decides to do so, he'll hit the open market and likely have the best opportunity that he's had in his career to get paid. There are a lot of factors that play into how his free agency will play out. On one hand, the Giants would be wise to offer him a new contract. If he decides to opt out of his contract, he could potentially be losing out on $30 million.

It was around this time last year that the Giants' top baseball official declared him their shortstop heading into this season. Marco Luciano is taking it all in stride. In a 10-minute interview prior to the Giants' series opener against the Royals, Luciano was courteous, diplomatic and professional, even if he had every right to be confused about the organization's handling of the player considered their top prospect since he was 17 years old. The hits kept coming, as Luciano was optioned to the minor leagues Saturday to clear a roster spot for Matt Chapman, who was reinstated from the paternity list.

It was around this time last year that the Giants' top baseball official declared him their shortstop heading into this season. Marco Luciano is taking it all in stride. In a 10-minute interview prior to the Giants' series opener against the Royals, Luciano was courteous, diplomatic and professional, even if he had every right to be confused about the organization's handling of the player considered their top prospect since he was 17 years old. Only after being mathematically eliminated Sunday was Melvin comfortable inserting Luciano into the starting lineup, and only with Mason Black, not one of their premier starting pitchers, on the mound.

The 2024 season will go down as one of the more disappointing in recent San Francisco Giants history. Not only are they missing the postseason for a third straight year, and seventh time out of the last eight, but they could see their win total decrease for a third season in a row as well. Ace Blake Snell, third baseman Matt Chapman and outfielder Jorge Soler were signed in free agency. Former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray was acquired in a trade from the Seattle Mariners.

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB z-Philadelphia 92 62 .597 — New York 85 69 .552 7 Atlanta 83 71 .539 9 Washington 69 86 .445 23½ Miami 57 97 .370 35 Central Division W L Pct GB x-Milwaukee 88 66 .571 — Chicago 79 76 .510 9½ St. Louis 77 77 .500 11 Cincinnati 76 80 .487 13 Pittsburgh 72 83 .465 16½ West Division W L Pct GB z-Los Angeles 92 62 .597 — San Diego 88 66 .571 4 Arizona 86 68 .558 6 San Francisco 75 79 .487 17 Colorado 59 95 .383 33 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 3, Washington 1 Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 3 Miami 4, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 12, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 5, St. Louis 1 San Francisco 2, Kansas City 1 Arizona 7, Milwaukee 4 L.A.

All Times EDT AMERICAN LEAGUE W L Pct WCGB Baltimore 86 68 .558 +5 Kansas City 82 72 .532 +1 Minnesota 81 73 .526 — Detroit 80 74 .519 1 Seattle 79 75 .513 2 Friday's Games Baltimore 7, Detroit 1 Seattle 8, Texas 2 San Francisco 2, Kansas City 1 Minnesota 4, Boston 2, 12 innings San Diego 3, Chicago White Sox 2, 10 innings Saturday's Games Detroit at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m. San Francisco at Kansas City, 5:10 p.m. Seattle at Texas, 7:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox at San Diego, 8:40 p.m. Minnesota at Boston, ppd. Sunday's Games Minnesota (Matthews 1-3) at Boston (Pivetta 5-11), 12:35 p.m., 1st game Detroit (TBD) at Baltimore (Suárez 8-6), 1:35 p.m. San Francisco (Snell 4-3) at Kansas City (Lugo 16-8),

The Kansas City Royals have endured their two worst losing streaks of the season over the past three-plus weeks. The Royals will try to at least temporarily halt their struggles when they host the San Francisco Giants again on Saturday. Kansas City (82-72) lost 2-1 in Friday's opener of the three-game set to run its losing streak to five games. The Royals lost seven in a row to begin the stretch in which they have dropped 14 of their past 21 games.

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB z-Philadelphia 92 62 .597 — New York 85 69 .552 7 Atlanta 83 71 .539 9 Washington 69 86 .445 23½ Miami 57 97 .370 35 Central Division W L Pct GB x-Milwaukee 88 66 .571 — Chicago 79 76 .510 9½ St. Louis 77 77 .500 11 Cincinnati 76 80 .487 13 Pittsburgh 72 83 .465 16½ West Division W L Pct GB z-Los Angeles 92 62 .597 — San Diego 88 66 .571 4 Arizona 86 68 .558 6 San Francisco 75 79 .487 17 Colorado 59 95 .383 33 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth ___ Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 3, Washington 1 Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 3 Miami 4, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 12, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 5, St. Louis 1 San Francisco 2, Kansas City 1 Arizona 7, Milwaukee 4 L.A.

San Francisco Giants (75-79, fourth in the NL West) vs. Kansas City Royals (82-72, second in the AL Central) Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 5:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Landen Roupp (0-1, 3.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 40 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (9-11, 3.53 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 159 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Royals -205, Giants +170; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the San Francisco Giants looking to end their four-game home skid. Kansas City has an 82-72 record overall and a 45-34 record in home games. The Royals have a 31-14 record in games when they hit at least two home runs. San Francisco has a 34-42 record on the road and a 75-79 record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- - The Kansas City Royals' late-season losing streak stretched to five on Friday night with a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, who got three hits from Heliot Ramos. Kansas City dropped four games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild card spot and saw its lead cut to one game over Minnesota for the second of the three wild cards. "You've got to make your own breaks," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

The Kansas City Royals' late-season losing streak stretched to five on Friday night with a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, who got three hits from Heliot Ramos. Kansas City dropped four games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild card spot and saw its lead cut to one game over Minnesota for the second of the three wild cards. “You've got to make your own breaks,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Heliot Ramos went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run to help the San Francisco Giants record a 2-1 victory over the host Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Mason Black pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first major league victory. Patrick Bailey also drove in a run as the Giants (75-79) won for the third time in the past four games. Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits for Kansas City to raise his major league-leading average to .334.

Jose Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a home run and Ben Lively allowed one run in five innings of work as the Guardians beat the St. Louis Cardinals Friday.

The Royals have now lost 5 straight during a playoff push. Here’s how they fell to the visiting Giants Friday.

With the Giants officially eliminated from playoff contention, manager Bob Melvin said before their series opener Friday against the Royals that he could create some extra opportunities over the final week of the season for their young players. Perhaps the best audition for 2025 came from their starting pitcher, Mason Black, who turned in his strongest outing yet as a big leaguer in a 2-1 victory. Black earned the first win of his career, while the Giants were an inning away from recording their 10th shutout of the season until Camilo Doval was called on to record the final three outs.

With the Giants officially eliminated from playoff contention, manager Bob Melvin said before their series opener Friday against the Royals that he could create some extra opportunities over the final week of the season for their young players. Perhaps the best audition for 2025 came from their starting pitcher, Mason Black, who turned in his strongest outing yet as a big leaguer in a 2-1 victory. Black earned the first win of his career, while the Giants were an inning away from recording their 10th shutout of the season until Camilo Doval was called on to record the final three outs.

Among the many things that have gone wrong for the San Francisco Giants in 2024, the situation regarding Marco Luciano might be the biggest deal. Luciano, once viewed as one of the top prospects in Major League Baseball, has yet to find a consistent role at the Big League level. No matter the level of prospect he once was, asking Luciano to be a star when he's played in 40 games is an unrealistic ask. If the Giants don't understand that, there are even bigger issues on hand.

BALTIMORE -- - Mike Yastrzemski homered on the game's first pitch, Michael Conforto also hit a solo shot and the San Francisco Giants beat the sinking Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday night. Baltimore has lost eight of 10 to fall five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East with 10 to play. Before their current skid, the Orioles held a half-game lead. For the second time in two nights, Yastrzemski put the Orioles in an immediate hole with a leadoff homer.

BALTIMORE -- - Mike Yastrzemski homered on the game's first pitch, Michael Conforto also hit a solo shot and the San Francisco Giants beat the sinking Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday night. Baltimore has lost eight of 10 to fall five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East with 10 to play. Before their current skid, the Orioles held a half-game lead. For the second time in two nights, Yastrzemski put the Orioles in an immediate hole with a leadoff homer.