Apr 17, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants have one of the top bullpens in the majors. And that group likely will be put to the test on Thursday when the Giants play a doubleheader against the host Philadelphia Phillies.
The middle contest of a scheduled three-game series was rained out Wednesday, leading to a day/night doubleheader on get-away day for both teams.
Even after the starting time of Wednesday’s game was pushed up in hopes of beating the rain, the postponement was made well in advance of warm-ups. Therefore, scheduled starters Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA) of the Giants and Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94) of the Phillies now are scheduled to start Game 1 on Thursday.
The Giants would not commit to their regularly scheduled starter, right-hander Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.36), in the nightcap, however, given the possibility of a doubleheader roster addition.
The Phillies made no announcement on their starter for the second game, but it likely will be rookie right-hander Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25 ERA).
Wednesday’s rainout gave Don Mattingly an extra day to celebrate his first win as Phillies manager, a 7-0 romp over the Giants in Tuesday’s series opener. He wasn’t surprised at the brand of baseball his players displayed in the immediate aftermath of a 1-11 stretch that cost Rob Thomson his job.
“When you have this type of talent, it’s there and it’s coming,” Mattingly said after Tuesday’s win. “You could feel this coming.”
Because of the rain, both teams got a full-bullpen break Wednesday.
The Giants are, statistically, one of the top bullpens in baseball. They rank third in ERA (3.06) and fourth in batting average allowed (.212).
One of the two bullpen losses came April 6 when the Phillies put up four runs in the seventh inning of the clubs’ series opener in San Francisco, flipping a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead. Philadelphia went on to win the game by that score.
Houser and Painter were the starting pitchers in that game.
Houser was in line to record his first win as a member of the Giants when he left the earlier home game against the Phillies with a 4-2 lead. This will be his fifth career start and 10th career appearance against the Phillies, having gone 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA.
Facing the Giants for the first time, Painter did not get a decision in the win, pulled after four innings, having surrendered four runs on nine hits.
Sanchez was hit hard by San Francisco on April 7, when the Giants tagged him for four runs (two earned) and 11 hits in five innings in a 6-0 victory. That loss dropped the left-hander to 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in six lifetime games against the Giants.
Webb, a right-hander, has never beaten the Phillies in three lifetime starts, going 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA.
Giants slugger Rafael Devers homered as San Francisco closed a series win over the Phillies in the earlier head-to-head with a 5-0 win. But he hasn’t homered in 16 games since, hitting .203 with 22 strikeouts in 64 at-bats.
“I know the kind of player I am,” Devers assured reporters after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the series opener Tuesday. “I have said it before: I am going to get out of this. I know what I can bring to the table.”
–Field Level Media
Apr 17, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants have one of the top bullpens in the majors. And that group likely will be put to the test on Thursday when the Giants play a doubleheader against the host Philadelphia Phillies.
The middle contest of a scheduled three-game series was rained out Wednesday, leading to a day/night doubleheader on get-away day for both teams.
Even after the starting time of Wednesday’s game was pushed up in hopes of beating the rain, the postponement was made well in advance of warm-ups. Therefore, scheduled starters Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA) of the Giants and Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94) of the Phillies now are scheduled to start Game 1 on Thursday.
The Giants would not commit to their regularly scheduled starter, right-hander Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.36), in the nightcap, however, given the possibility of a doubleheader roster addition.
The Phillies made no announcement on their starter for the second game, but it likely will be rookie right-hander Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25 ERA).
Wednesday’s rainout gave Don Mattingly an extra day to celebrate his first win as Phillies manager, a 7-0 romp over the Giants in Tuesday’s series opener. He wasn’t surprised at the brand of baseball his players displayed in the immediate aftermath of a 1-11 stretch that cost Rob Thomson his job.
“When you have this type of talent, it’s there and it’s coming,” Mattingly said after Tuesday’s win. “You could feel this coming.”
Because of the rain, both teams got a full-bullpen break Wednesday.
The Giants are, statistically, one of the top bullpens in baseball. They rank third in ERA (3.06) and fourth in batting average allowed (.212).
One of the two bullpen losses came April 6 when the Phillies put up four runs in the seventh inning of the clubs’ series opener in San Francisco, flipping a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead. Philadelphia went on to win the game by that score.
Houser and Painter were the starting pitchers in that game.
Houser was in line to record his first win as a member of the Giants when he left the earlier home game against the Phillies with a 4-2 lead. This will be his fifth career start and 10th career appearance against the Phillies, having gone 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA.
Facing the Giants for the first time, Painter did not get a decision in the win, pulled after four innings, having surrendered four runs on nine hits.
Sanchez was hit hard by San Francisco on April 7, when the Giants tagged him for four runs (two earned) and 11 hits in five innings in a 6-0 victory. That loss dropped the left-hander to 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in six lifetime games against the Giants.
Webb, a right-hander, has never beaten the Phillies in three lifetime starts, going 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA.
Giants slugger Rafael Devers homered as San Francisco closed a series win over the Phillies in the earlier head-to-head with a 5-0 win. But he hasn’t homered in 16 games since, hitting .203 with 22 strikeouts in 64 at-bats.
“I know the kind of player I am,” Devers assured reporters after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the series opener Tuesday. “I have said it before: I am going to get out of this. I know what I can bring to the table.”
–Field Level Media
![Deadspin | LIV Golf seeks ‘long-term financial partners’ as Saudi Arabia’s PIF confirms exit [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 5, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Bryson DeChambeau in action during the second round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reuters via Imagn Images LIV Golf plans to continue without the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, touting “100% year over year” financial growth in 2026. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) formally announced it would end financial support of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. “PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,” a PIF statement read Thursday. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.” Under a reshaped model, LIV established a new, independent board and envisions further commercial agreements to stabilize the intended PGA Tour competitor. “LIV Golf is transitioning from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model, with a formal process underway to attract long-term financial partners,” the circuit said in a statement Thursday, hours after learning the financial underpinning from the PIF was ended. Signs of a fracture in the PIF-LIV emerged earlier this year and simmered to the surface last week, when ESPN obtained an email LIV CEO Scott O’Neil sent to staff claiming the 2026 season will continue “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.” He made no mention of LIV’s future beyond 2026, however. LIV said the new board will be headed by Eugene Davis, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group LLC and Jon Zinman, the founder and managing member of JZ Advisors LLC. They are tasked primarily with “institutionalizing the league, formalizing its ownership structure, and evaluating the range of strategic opportunities,” LIV Golf said Thursday. Founded in 2021, LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022 and used lavish, guaranteed contracts to lure dozens of stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA. PIF has provided LIV with more than $5 billion, but the league has reportedly lost millions of dollars per year. Earlier this month, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor and LIV’s main financial backer, shared a plan for the kingdom to cut back on international investments and focus on more domestic projects. DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Rahm reportedly turned down the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year. According to MSN.com, some LIV players have reached out to the DP World Tour. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #LIV #Golf #seeks #longterm #financial #partners #Saudi #Arabias #PIF #confirms #exit](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28164461.jpg "Deadspin | LIV Golf seeks ‘long-term financial partners’ as Saudi Arabia’s PIF confirms exit [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 5, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Bryson DeChambeau in action during the second round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reuters via Imagn Images LIV Golf plans to continue without the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, touting “100% year over year” financial growth in 2026. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) formally announced it would end financial support of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. “PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,” a PIF statement read Thursday. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.” Under a reshaped model, LIV established a new, independent board and envisions further commercial agreements to stabilize the intended PGA Tour competitor. “LIV Golf is transitioning from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model, with a formal process underway to attract long-term financial partners,” the circuit said in a statement Thursday, hours after learning the financial underpinning from the PIF was ended. Signs of a fracture in the PIF-LIV emerged earlier this year and simmered to the surface last week, when ESPN obtained an email LIV CEO Scott O’Neil sent to staff claiming the 2026 season will continue “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.” He made no mention of LIV’s future beyond 2026, however. LIV said the new board will be headed by Eugene Davis, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group LLC and Jon Zinman, the founder and managing member of JZ Advisors LLC. They are tasked primarily with “institutionalizing the league, formalizing its ownership structure, and evaluating the range of strategic opportunities,” LIV Golf said Thursday. Founded in 2021, LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022 and used lavish, guaranteed contracts to lure dozens of stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA. PIF has provided LIV with more than $5 billion, but the league has reportedly lost millions of dollars per year. Earlier this month, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor and LIV’s main financial backer, shared a plan for the kingdom to cut back on international investments and focus on more domestic projects. DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Rahm reportedly turned down the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year. According to MSN.com, some LIV players have reached out to the DP World Tour. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #LIV #Golf #seeks #longterm #financial #partners #Saudi #Arabias #PIF #confirms #exit")
![Deadspin | LIV Golf seeks ‘long-term financial partners’ as Saudi Arabia’s PIF confirms exit [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 5, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Bryson DeChambeau in action during the second round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reuters via Imagn Images LIV Golf plans to continue without the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, touting “100% year over year” financial growth in 2026. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) formally announced it would end financial support of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. “PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,” a PIF statement read Thursday. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.” Under a reshaped model, LIV established a new, independent board and envisions further commercial agreements to stabilize the intended PGA Tour competitor. “LIV Golf is transitioning from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model, with a formal process underway to attract long-term financial partners,” the circuit said in a statement Thursday, hours after learning the financial underpinning from the PIF was ended. Signs of a fracture in the PIF-LIV emerged earlier this year and simmered to the surface last week, when ESPN obtained an email LIV CEO Scott O’Neil sent to staff claiming the 2026 season will continue “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.” He made no mention of LIV’s future beyond 2026, however. LIV said the new board will be headed by Eugene Davis, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group LLC and Jon Zinman, the founder and managing member of JZ Advisors LLC. They are tasked primarily with “institutionalizing the league, formalizing its ownership structure, and evaluating the range of strategic opportunities,” LIV Golf said Thursday. Founded in 2021, LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022 and used lavish, guaranteed contracts to lure dozens of stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA. PIF has provided LIV with more than $5 billion, but the league has reportedly lost millions of dollars per year. Earlier this month, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor and LIV’s main financial backer, shared a plan for the kingdom to cut back on international investments and focus on more domestic projects. DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Rahm reportedly turned down the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year. According to MSN.com, some LIV players have reached out to the DP World Tour. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #LIV #Golf #seeks #longterm #financial #partners #Saudi #Arabias #PIF #confirms #exit](https://i0.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28164461.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | LIV Golf seeks ‘long-term financial partners’ as Saudi Arabia’s PIF confirms exit [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 5, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Bryson DeChambeau in action during the second round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reuters via Imagn Images LIV Golf plans to continue without the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, touting “100% year over year” financial growth in 2026. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) formally announced it would end financial support of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season. “PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,” a PIF statement read Thursday. “The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy. This decision has been made in light of PIF’s investment priorities and current macro dynamics.” Under a reshaped model, LIV established a new, independent board and envisions further commercial agreements to stabilize the intended PGA Tour competitor. “LIV Golf is transitioning from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model, with a formal process underway to attract long-term financial partners,” the circuit said in a statement Thursday, hours after learning the financial underpinning from the PIF was ended. Signs of a fracture in the PIF-LIV emerged earlier this year and simmered to the surface last week, when ESPN obtained an email LIV CEO Scott O’Neil sent to staff claiming the 2026 season will continue “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.” He made no mention of LIV’s future beyond 2026, however. LIV said the new board will be headed by Eugene Davis, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group LLC and Jon Zinman, the founder and managing member of JZ Advisors LLC. They are tasked primarily with “institutionalizing the league, formalizing its ownership structure, and evaluating the range of strategic opportunities,” LIV Golf said Thursday. Founded in 2021, LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022 and used lavish, guaranteed contracts to lure dozens of stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA. PIF has provided LIV with more than $5 billion, but the league has reportedly lost millions of dollars per year. Earlier this month, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor and LIV’s main financial backer, shared a plan for the kingdom to cut back on international investments and focus on more domestic projects. DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Rahm reportedly turned down the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year. According to MSN.com, some LIV players have reached out to the DP World Tour. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #LIV #Golf #seeks #longterm #financial #partners #Saudi #Arabias #PIF #confirms #exit")