What we learned as Giants strand nine runners in series-opening loss to Braves

SAN FRANCISCO — At the halfway point of the 2026 MLB season, the Giants aren’t on pace to match the infamous 98-loss team from 2017. But they’re awfully close. With a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Giants hit the halfway point at 33-48, a 96-loss pace. They’re the second-worst team in the National League, sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of the Colorado Rockies. Their Friday night game in front of 39,000 fans was remarkably quiet. The Giants scattered seven hits and left nine on base. The Braves put multiple runners on in three of Trevor McDonald’s first five innings and scored three runs against the right-hander, who had his longest start in a month. The Giants got a run in the first but couldn’t take advantage when they loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. They failed again in the seventh after getting the tying run to second with one out. On The BoardDaniel Susac reached for his lower back after just one pitch on Thursday, and while he gutted it out for a while, he ended up being replaced late in the game. Testing showed enough that Susac went on the 10-day IL on Friday with a lower back strain, and instead of...