Things have not gone great for the San Francisco Giants offensively this season. Through 18 games, they are scoring only 4.22 runs per contest and sit 18th in total runs scored.

Not quite what they were hoping for when adding Jung Hoo Lee, Jorge Soler, and Matt Chapman in free agency.

That was on display Tuesday night against the lowly Miami Marlins when the Giants only plated three runs during their 6-3 loss that saw them leave eight men on base and go 1-8 with runners in scoring position.

Prior to them heading to Florida for a six-game road trip, this was seen as a pivotal point during the early part of their year as they were facing a Tampa Bay Rays team that hasn’t been as formidable in seasons past, and the Marlins who had the worst record in the National League.

This loss now sets up a rubber match to determine the winner of this series, something that is going to be an important one for San Francisco to win.

Entering Wednesday’s contest with a 7-11 record, they’ll immediately move into a 10-game home stretch starting Thursday where they face the 2023 National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks, and the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates who both currently have winning records.

All three also rank inside the Top 10 of staff ERA as well, meaning runs will be hard to come by once again.

That’s not going to be an easy stretch by any means for the Giants, no matter if they are in their own ballpark.

The Miami series was a big one for that reason.

If San Francisco wants to compete for a playoff spot this season they have to beat the teams on their schedule who they should win against.

They’ll have the opportunity to do so on Wednesday, but if they keep performing the way they have with runners on base, they will continue to struggle like they have done for much of the year.