The Giants fire manager Gabe Kapler before the end of the MLB season

San Francisco — The San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler on Friday, the first managerial change of 2023 three days before the season ends and with the team eliminated from any chance of advancing to the postseason.

San Francisco is 78-81 entering its season finale against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Kapler, 48, had a record of 295-248 in four seasons leading the Giants, but his only year with a positive record was in 2021, when San Francisco set a franchise record with 107 wins to win the sector title.

The Giants lost that year to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series and the following season they went 81-81.

“After making this recommendation to the owners and receiving their approval, I met with Gabe this day to inform him of our decision,” said the team’s president of sports operations, Farhan Zaidi. “He has been dedicated and passionate in his efforts to improve the San Francisco Giants’ performance on the field, and I have enormous respect for him as a colleague and friend.”

Kapler’s first season with San Francisco was in 2020, which had a reduced schedule due to the pandemic. He previously managed the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he had a 161-163 record.