The San Francisco Giants and New York Mets entered their weekend series with little left to play for in terms of postseason positioning.

Both teams had fallen out of contention fairly early.

The Giants were swept by the New York Yankees in their opening series and eventually fell well below .500 during a difficult first season under novice manager Tony Vitello. The Mets, on the other hand, endured a 12-game losing streak in April.

Still, the series carried some meaning for San Francisco.

Beyond evaluating younger players, the Giants are watching to see where Rafael Devers finishes statistically after his first full season on the West Coast following a turbulent ending with the Boston Red Sox.

Before striking out in his first three at-bats Sunday, and before San Francisco suffered its 20th loss decided in the final at-bat because of a struggling bullpen, Devers had produced a remarkable stretch.

After homering twice Saturday, he became only the third hitter in Giants history to record at least six home runs and seven walks over a six-game span.

The other two were Willie Mays and Barry Bonds.

Mays first accomplished it from May 6-13, 1958, going 14-for-23 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.

He had three multi-home run games across four contests against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bonds matched the accomplishment during April 2004.

He hit six home runs and drew seven walks from April 11-18, then produced seven home runs and nine walks from April 13-20.

Bonds had four different six-game stretches that season meeting those thresholds, hitting at least .600 in each and launching five home runs against the Dodgers.

Devers has 35 home runs in 146 games this season, making him the first Giant to get there since Bonds hit 45 in 2004.

Last season, Willy Adames hit 30 in 160 games, becoming the first Giant with a 30-home run season since Bonds.

Devers is one of 15 players in franchise history with a 35-home run season, joining names including Bonds, Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Mel Ott, Johnny Mize, Jeff Kent, Bobby Bonds, Will Clark and Matt Williams.

Reaching 40 would give the franchise its 23rd such season.

Bonds owns the last seven and eight overall, while Williams hit 43 in 1994 and Kevin Mitchell hit 47 in 1989 after receiving help from Dusty Baker, then San Francisco’s hitting coach before his 26-year managerial career.

Devers also has 92 RBIs as the Giants chase their first 100-RBI season since Buster Posey drove in 103 in 2012.

Hunter Pence finished one short in 2013, while Posey was five short in 2015.

Since then, Brandon Crawford is the only Giant to reach 90 RBIs, doing so during the unexpected 107-win 2021 season that ended against the Dodgers in the Division Series.

Devers can change a game with one swing without becoming completely dependent on aggression.

He combines natural power with patience, forcing pitchers to choose between challenging him or giving him opportunities to reach base.

His bat speed allows him to handle premium velocity, while his ability to drive pitches to different parts of the field makes him harder to attack with one consistent plan.

He also brings experience handling pressure, expectations and the responsibility of being a central offensive figure.

Even during a disappointing team season, that presence matters.

San Francisco appears likely to avoid 100 losses and hopes to stay below 95 defeats, but Devers finishing on a hot streak gives the Giants something significant to follow through the final stretch.