SF Giants’ Chapman activated from injured list, returns to lineup
WEST SACRAMENTO — The production alone does not fully encapsulate third baseman Matt Chapman’s value to the Giants. To manager Bob Melvin, Chapman is also the team’s unquestioned leader.
“The intensity he brings on the field every day — he’s kind of the heartbeat of the team,” Melvin said Friday.
Following a one-game rehab assignment with the Triple-A River Cats on Friday and a nearly monthlong absence, that heartbeat returned Saturday as Chapman was activated off the injured list and back in the Giants’ lineup.
Chapman was the Giants’ cleanup hitter, right behind designated hitter Rafael Devers, for the second game of their three-game series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
“I wanted to come back as fast I could,” said Chapman, who missed 23 games after he sustained a right-hand injury on June 8 against the Atlanta Braves. “I don’t like watching. I want to be out there, helping the guys. I (rehabbed) as fast as the Giants would let me.”
Chapman was injured when he dove back to first base on a pickoff attempt, and he said he was able to beat his expected return date by about a week.
It couldn’t have come soon enough for Melvin, who saw his team go 9-14 in Chapman’s absence. The swoon included losing two of three to the rebuilding Chicago White Sox and getting swept by the below-.500 Miami Marlins.
The Giants’ 11-2 loss to the A’s on Friday marked their eighth defeat in 11 games, and entering Saturday, San Francisco was one game out of a playoff spot.
This season, the Giants were 37-28 with Chapman in the lineup before Saturday as he was 10th among all big league third baseman in fielding percentage (.960). He also had a team-leading 2.7 WAR rating.
“From the minute he’s gotten here, he’s embraced the leadership role, and he plays a certain style of baseball that we play,” Melvin said of Chapman. “It’s huge to have him back, not just the production part with what he does on the field, it’s his presence in the dugout, on the field and in the clubhouse. He’s a big part of the group.”
In Chapman’s absence, the Giants had to patch together the third base position.
Casey Schmitt took over for Chapman and put together one of the best stretches of baseball in his career. He got injured after taking a sinker to the hand,
Christian Koss, in turn, took over for Schmitt. He, too, played well. He, too, got injured, sustaining a left hamstring injury that will sideline him until the second half.
After losing Koss — their third-string third baseman — Melvin had to get creative.
Wilmer Flores made a rare appearance at third base on Tuesday. Brett Wisely got the starting nod on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Sergio Alcántara started at the hot corner in his first action with San Francisco this season, and he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
With Chapman’s return, the Giants designated Alcántara for assignment, and Schmitt is getting better after he started a rehab assignment Saturday night in Triple-A.
“We’re getting closer to having more of a stable lineup,” Melvin said. “Since (Chapman’s) been out, we’ve had to mix and match a little bit get our hotter guys up (in the lineup). When we were playing our best baseball, I think we had more of a stable lineup. So hopefully, we can get to that.”
Saturday also marked the first time Chapman was able to play alongside Devers, whom the Giants acquired from the Red Sox on June 16. In 17 games with the Giants before Saturday, Devers hit .215/.307/.369 with two homers and nine RBIs.
“I’d like to think I can make an impact,” Chapman said. “I think that being out there every day, playing third base, being next to (shortstop) Willy (Adames), I think the more guys you have in the lineup, more consistently, the better.
“They’ve had a lot of guys playing third base and a lot more movement in the lineup. Once you get more of a set lineup and your guys are in the lineup, everybody gets more comfortable.”
NOTABLE: Shortly before Saturday’s game, the Giants placed left-hander Erik Miller on the 15-day IL, retroactive to July 3, with a left elbow sprain. Fellow lefty Scott Alexander was selected from Triple-A. … The Giants also recalled Tristan Beck from Triple-A and optioned fellow right-hander Mason Black to the River Cats. Black pitched four innings Friday and allowed five hits, including two homers and three earned runs. Melvin said he liked how Black pitched, adding he could be an option to return at some point.
Staff writer Curtis Pashelka contributed to this story.
