Crucial series vs. Dodgers to test SF Giants’ stability, kick off grueling stretch

The Giants are back in the win column, responding to a five-game losing streak by taking three of four from the Cubs — their first victories since the death of Willie Mays. Winning a series against Chicago, a team that’s spiraled over the last two months, is one thing. Trying to take a series against Dodgers, who keep on rolling despite injuries? That’s another.

“It’s always pretty festive here when we play the Dodgers,” said manager Bob Melvin.

Los Angeles looks very different compared to the last time these two teams met in mid-May, the biggest absence being that of Mookie Betts after he sustained a left hand fracture on June 16. Before the injury, Betts was making a case to win his second MVP, sporting an .892 OPS with 10 home runs and nine steals while playing shortstop.

It’s not just Betts missing, either. Infielder Max Muncy is on the 60-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right rotator cuff strain) and Walker Buehler (right hip inflammation) are on the 15-day injured list, too.

Most teams would crater under these circumstances. The Dodgers keep winning.

Since Betts went down, Los Angeles has won seven of their last nine. During this stretch, Shohei Ohtani has hit six homers with an absurd a 1.606 OPS — strengthening his own MVP case in his teammate’s absence — while Freddie Freeman boasts a .920 OPS, too. The pitching staff has been strong as well, posting a 3.20 ERA over its last 81 2/3 innings.

While Los Angeles is still thriving, San Francisco is trying to tread water.

The Giants currently have an entire five-man rotation — Blake Snell, Robbie Ray, Alex Cobb, Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn — on the injured list. This month, San Francisco’s starters have thrown 103 2/3 innings, the fewest in baseball. That total is unsurprising given that Melvin has been forced to roll with bullpen games, just as he did on Monday and Tuesday.

The rotation depth is so depleted that the team called up Hayden Birdsong, a 22-year-old who had made just two starts with Triple-A Sacramento, to start on Wednesday. Birdsong held his own in his major-league debut, allowing three runs across 4 2/3 innings, but ideally, the right-hander would still be developing in Triple-A.

“Other than (Logan Webb), we’re getting some short starts right now, so it’s a mix-and-match to make sure you have enough guys to cover nine innings,” Melvin said on Thursday.

While the Giants’ most pressing need is in the rotation, they’re also more than happy to welcome LaMonte Wade Jr. back into the fold on Friday after he missed a month with a left hamstring strain. Before hitting the shelf, Wade was one of the best first basemen in baseball, making a legitimate All-Star case in a National League that also features Freeman and Phillies’ Bryce Harper. At the time of his injury, Wade led all of baseball in on-base percentage (.470) to compliment his .333 batting average.

“It’s a pretty significant bat,” Melvin said. “Whether it was on base or whether it was big hits, he’s a top-of-the-order guy that we lean on a lot, so it will be great to get him back.”

Wade’s return comes at a time when the Giants need all the help they can get as their schedule won’t ease up once the Dodgers leave town. Following a three-game set with their rivals, the orange and black will close out the first half by playing the Braves, Guardians, Blue Jays and Twins. Entering Thursday, that quartet had a combined record of 175-140. Right now, though, San Francisco’s collective attention lies on one team.

“We’re just worried about L.A., not who’s after that,” Melvin said. “They’re a lot to handle.”