Rafael Devers and Justin Verlander, both in their first seasons with the San Francisco Giants, are coming off strong recent performances as the team pursues a series win against the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon. Devers’ late-season surge has been a critical factor in the Giants’ offense, while Verlander seeks to secure his second win of the season.
Devers Continues Hitting Hot Streak with Consecutive Homers
Devers homered in consecutive games this weekend, driving in runs in Friday’s 5-0 victory and Saturday’s 4-2 loss against the Nationals. These home runs marked his 21st and 22nd of the season and represented his third time this year hitting homers on back-to-back days, a feat he previously achieved twice while with the Boston Red Sox. Throughout his career, Devers has enjoyed multiple multi-game homer streaks, including a notable six-game streak last May during his time with Boston.
Beyond his power hitting, Devers also demonstrated plate discipline by recording a single and two walks in Saturday’s game. Across both matchups this weekend, he reached base in six of eight plate appearances, underscoring his growing offensive consistency. Devers served as the designated hitter on Saturday after playing first base in the opener, with Giants manager Bob Melvin expressing confidence that his place in the lineup matters less than his sustained hitting:
“When he’s comfortable at the plate, you see what he does right now,”
Melvin told reporters after Saturday’s game.
“He (was) DH’ing (on Saturday); he’s gone back and forth. He is more comfortable at first base. I just think it’s him being Devers at this point.”
Verlander Looks to Cement Win with Support from Devers
Devers and Verlander’s collaboration on the field has been limited but notable since Devers joined the Giants in June. The two have appeared in the same game nine times, with the Giants only winning once during those contests. Devers’ batting average in those games stands at .212, with numerous strikeouts, but both of his home runs in that span came in the Giants’ sole victory with Verlander pitching, a 9-3 win over Atlanta on July 23.
Despite Verlander’s solid pitching performances in recent starts—allowing just one earned run over 10 innings in games against the Pittsburgh Pirates—he has yet to notch a win in those outings, while Devers struggled offensively. Verlander, a Virginia native who played college baseball at Old Dominion, has enjoyed significant success against the Nationals in his career, boasting a 5-0 record and a 2.08 ERA spanning 30 1/3 innings.
Upcoming Matchup: Verlander vs. Gore
Sunday’s matchup pits Verlander against left-handed Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who holds a 4-12 record with a 4.29 ERA this season. Gore, now 23, was only six years old when Verlander debuted in Major League Baseball in 2005. Gore has a 3-2 record with a 4.97 ERA in five starts against the Giants, including a strong six-inning effort in a May 23 game that ended in a 4-0 Giants win.
In direct face-offs, Gore has dominated Devers in lefty-on-lefty contests, retiring him all six times they have met at the plate, striking him out twice. Gore has faced difficulties this season, including a recent blowup where he gave up eight runs in three innings during a 16-7 loss at home versus the Oakland Athletics. Reflecting on the poor outing, Gore admitted after the game:
“Something needs to change. They were on everything; we’ve got to figure out why. There’s going to be some type of adjustment.”
Significance of the Clash and Outlook
The contest between Verlander and Gore highlights a pivotal moment for the Giants, who are counting on Devers’ late-season surge to energize the lineup and help Verlander convert his quality starts into victories. With Verlander’s history of strong performances against the Nationals and Devers showing signs of consistent offensive production, Sunday’s game could shift momentum for the Giants in this series. Gore, despite this season’s struggles, remains a challenge as he seeks to rebound from recent setbacks.
Fans and analysts will watch closely as the Giants navigate this critical junction, aiming to secure a series win that could reinforce their playoff aspirations and build confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.