May 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) looks toward the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The San Francisco Giants are hoping Rafael Devers can carry forward his recent momentum as they aim for a second consecutive home victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
Devers delivered a single and a solo home run in the 5-2 series-opening win on Friday, extending his hitting streak to eight games. This marked his first multi-hit performance during the streak, which has lifted his batting average from .203 to .229. For his career, Devers is a .274 hitter.
“He looks good,” Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters after Friday’s win. “You could see it coming. The foul balls, the barrels… they’ve been really good. It’s nice to see (positive results).”
Devers has yet to record a hit off Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.02 ERA), the Pirates’ scheduled starter for the rematch. The two faced off for the first two times last season, both with Ashcraft coming out of the bullpen—first when Devers flew out deep to left field in a July home loss, then when Ashcraft struck him out in Pittsburgh in August.
The right-hander did not factor into a decision after blanking the Cincinnati Reds over 7 2/3 innings in his most recent start last Sunday, a game the Pirates won 1-0. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts but holds only a 1-1 record from those efforts.
Ashcraft, a second-year major-leaguer, has never started a game against the Giants. He has faced them only in those two relief appearances last summer, going 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA over 5 1/3 innings.
Seeking their first winning streak since a brief two-game run at the end of their last homestand, the Giants would like to see right-hander Landen Roupp (5-2, 3.18) begin a new streak of his own. The 27-year-old saw a personal four-game win streak snapped in a 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay last Saturday, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings—his shortest outing of the season. Roupp, a third-year major-leaguer, has never faced the Pirates.
Pittsburgh managed only two runs and five hits against four Giants pitchers in the series opener. Even while winning three times, they have totaled just eight runs over their last five games, including two 1-0 victories. The Pirates were held to one run in six innings by left-hander Robbie Ray. Their best inning came in the ninth against right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian, who allowed one run while facing left-handed hitters Brandon Lowe, Spencer Horwitz, and Ryan O’Hearn.
The Pirates have hit 30 of their 42 home runs this season off right-handers.
“The guys are just having great at-bats. Hitting the ball hard. Swinging at strikes,” O’Hearn told reporters earlier this week. “We don’t have a lot of guys trying to hit home runs. Quality at-bats and passing the baton, getting guys on base. Then the big homers come.”
Marcell Ozuna homered off Ray to produce Pittsburgh’s first run Friday.
