SAN FRANCISCO — Second baseman Luis Arraez and left-hander Robbie Ray have been viewed as the Giants’ most obvious candidates to be moved ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
But there’s another pending free agent who seems likely to garner interest from contending teams over the next week: right-hander Tyler Mahle.
Mahle continued to boost his trade value by spinning six-plus scoreless innings in the Giants’ 3-0 series-opening win over the Brewers on Monday night at Oracle Park.
Mahle allowed only three hits while walking two and striking out three in the 88-pitch gem, which lowered his ERA to 4.96 over 17 starts this year. The 31-year-old veteran enjoyed a noticeable uptick in velocity against the NL Central-leading Brewers, with his four-seam fastball up 1.7 mph from his season average.
“I was just out there trying to make pitches,” Mahle said. “I don’t know why it was up, but it was up. I was feeling good. Honestly, the first pitch of the game, usually I can try to throw as hard as I can and a lot of games it’ll be 90, 91 [mph]. That’s what it usually is. I looked up and it was 93, and I was surprised by that. The rest of the game seemed higher but not crazy.”
The Giants also turned three double plays behind Mahle to help secure their first shutout win over the Brewers at home since 2017.
“He was throwing as hard as he’s thrown in the big leagues,” manager Tony Vitello said. “He’s got a really nice rhythm out there when he’s in the windup and also was able to get out of some trouble out of the stretch by getting some important ground balls.”
Mahle got off to a nightmarish start after joining the Giants on a one-year, $10 million deal over the offseason, logging a 6.04 ERA over his first 11 outings of 2026. But he’s been far more effective since returning from a left hamstring strain on June 24, recording a 3.06 ERA over his past six starts.
Mahle is slated to make his next appearance against the Padres at Petco Park on Saturday, but he’s well aware that plans can be upended quickly leading up to the Trade Deadline.
“It’s part of it,” Mahle said. “You know what’s coming. Where I’m at right now, I’m just trying to pitch better than I’ve been. That’s what I’m focused on. I’m focused on winning games for the Giants right now. Obviously, the noise is there, but it doesn’t really matter because I’m here right now playing for this team. I’m just trying to win games here.”
Luis Arraez put the Giants on the board with an RBI single in the third inning before Grant McCray extended the club’s lead to 3-0 with a two-run, opposite-field shot in the bottom of the fourth. McCray’s first home run of 2026 traveled a Statcast-projected 406 feet out to left-center field and snapped an 0-for-22 stretch that dated back to last year.
“I hit it, and it sounded good off the bat,” McCray said. “I hit it well. When I debuted, I hit a couple of balls like that 108 [mph] and they didn’t go. I was like, ‘All right, whatever, I’m just glad it found the seats.’”
The Giants have a few outfielders working their way back from injuries, including Harrison Bader (left plantar fasciitis), Jonah Cox (left oblique strain) and Victor Bericoto (left oblique strain), but McCray is certainly making a case to stick in the big leagues in the second half, especially after flashing his elite speed and cannon-like arm in recent days.
“In the last seven days, he’s shown you everything he can do, whether it’s stealing a base in an important situation, throwing runners out, playing hard up until the last moment,” Vitello said. “Now that he’s got some at-bats and live pitching under his belt, we’re getting to see him use that swing. It’s got a lot of whip to it. The numbers or the results speak for themselves. But we’ll keep him involved and keep allowing experience to sprinkle in with those exciting tools.”
