Giants aim to finish strong in best-of-three series
The San Jose Giants begin the California League Championship Series on Sunday at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, seeking the franchise's first Cal League title since 2022. The best-of-three matchup against the Lake Elsinore Storm opens at 4:35 p.m., with Game 2 scheduled in San Jose on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and a deciding Game 3, if necessary, set for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
San Jose reached the championship series after a dominant finish in the regular season and a Division Series sweep of the Stockton Ports. The Giants won both the first and second halves of the North Division and closed the regular season on a 20-2 run that included taking all six games from Lake Elsinore in their late-season meeting.
- Series format: Best-of-three
- Game 1: Sunday, 4:35 p.m., The Diamond (Lake Elsinore)
- Game 2: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Excite Ballpark (San Jose)
- Game 3 (if needed): Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Excite Ballpark (San Jose)
Matchups and key players
The Storm will hand the ball to right-hander Tyler Schmitt for Game 1. The 22-year-old finished the season with 106 strikeouts and posted a 4.76 ERA, with a 12.7% walk rate and a 24.4% strikeout rate across 23 appearances. Schmitt did not pitch in the South Division Series.
San Jose’s roster is headlined by shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, the San Francisco Giants’ top prospect, who provided a spark during the Giants’ run. In 31 games with San Jose, Gonzalez slashed .357/.444/.566 with three homers, 35 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The Giants also led the Cal League in runs scored this season.
The Giants’ offense received contributions from recent draftees in the playoffs. Sixth-round pick Nu‘u Contrades went 5-for-7 with a double and two RBIs in the Division Series, while fourth-rounder Alex Conover went 5-for-8 with two doubles and three RBIs. On the pitching side, the Storm’s likely Game 2 starter is right-hander Jesus Castro, who turned in a strong performance in Game 1 of the South Division Series.
"The Giants led the Cal League in runs scored this season," the team summary notes.
How the teams arrived
Lake Elsinore finished the first half of the season as South Division winners, then slipped to last place in the second half before sweeping the Ontario Tower Buzzers in the Division Series. The Storm last won the Cal League title in 2022 and fell in the Championship Series in 2024.
San Jose’s path has been steadier. By sealing both halves of the North Division, the Giants entered the postseason as the clear favorite from their side of the bracket and dispatched Stockton in two games to reach the finals. The late-season dominance over Lake Elsinore — a six-game sweep — adds confidence as the teams meet again for the championship.
| Team | Key offensive leader | Notable pitching |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose Giants | Josuar Gonzalez — .357/.444/.566 (31 games) | Division Series pitching depth; Jesus Castro noted for strong Game 1 performance (Storm) |
| Lake Elsinore Storm | Balanced lineup; rebound late in playoffs | Tyler Schmitt — 106 K, 4.76 ERA |
For San Jose fans, the series returns to Excite Ballpark for at least two potential home games: Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday evening and a Game 3, if necessary, for Wednesday. The Giants enter the series riding both momentum and a high-scoring offense, while Lake Elsinore will rely on Schmitt and an opportunistic approach to try to take the opener at home.
Local supporters should expect a familiar postseason scene: a compact series where pitching matchups and timely hitting will decide the winner. With San Jose’s offense having paced the league during the regular season and a deep run already secured, the championship remains well within reach.
