​The San Francisco Giants have been unable to find their footing during the 2026 MLB season and appear destined to miss the playoffs for the fifth season in a row. Entering Saturday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies, the Giants are 50-72 and only a game ahead of the Rockies for fourth place in the National League West.MORE: Yordan Alvarez makes personal decision after 13 straight games without a home runSitting 14th in the National League standings, the Giants can attribute much of their struggles to several key players who have failed to meet expectations, with star shortstop Willy Adames experiencing a particularly difficult year at the plate and in the field.After signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Giants in December of 2024, Adames has struggled to find his best form this year. The 30-year-old shortstop is slashing .224/.285/.413 with 19 home runs, and his 133 strikeouts in 116 games have hurt the Giants’ stalling offense. His .285 OBP and .697 OPS are both career-lows.To make matters worse for Adames and the struggling Giants, the veteran shortstop is now dealing with a lingering back issue that has kept him out of San Francisco’s lineup since he was removed in the 7th inning in Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros. An MRI later revealed a Grade 1 lower-back strain.Despite the recurring nature of the injury, Adames appears optimistic that he will be able to return without requiring an extended absence. According to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News, Adames said he hopes the Giants will not place him on the injured list and does not believe an IL stint will ultimately be necessary.“Caught up with Willy Adames. He said he hopes he’s not placed on the injured list and doesn’t think it’d be necessary,” delos Santos shared on X.Adames’ optimism and desire to be on the field speak to his commitment as a player, but the Giants should have little reason to rush their second-most expensive player back onto the field. At 50-72 and well outside the postseason picture, San Francisco’s priority should be ensuring Adames is fully healthy rather than getting him back in the lineup as quickly as possible.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —