Giants postseason dreams end in a 9-8 defeat to the Cardinals as a beleaguered bullpen lets a five run lead slip after Logan Webb delivers six solid innings. Ryan Walker blows the save in the ninth, sealing a season that swinged from hopeful to heartbreaking as San Francisco misses the playoffs.

Fantasy takeaways hinge on bullpen volatility, Webb workload, and the impact of the Devers addition amid a lineup still chasing a breakthrough. Off-field notes include ABS testing next year and Hunter Pence joining ESPN for wild-card coverage, signaling a broader narrative around a team in transition.

San Francisco’s bats wake in the 11th, delivering a 5-1 win at Arizona after Brandon Pfaadt’s nine-inning gem. Justin Verlander spun seven scoreless for the Giants, but the bullpen couldn’t hold in extras until a huge 11th-frame rally. Bryce Eldridge drew a first major league walk, Patrick Bailey sparked the bases loaded hit, and Rafael Devers knocked in the go-ahead runs as San Francisco seized the moment and closed within striking distance in the wild-card race.

Fantasy takeaway: late-inning surges and bullpen decisions shaped the result, elevating the value of Giants role players (Bailey, Koss, McCray) while underscoring Pfaadt’s dominance despite the loss. With 10 games left, every inning matters as these teams jockey for postseason positioning.