WEST SACRAMENTO — The Giants looked lifeless in their blowout loss to the A’s on Friday night, but they’re hoping to receive a jolt from the return of the player who has been described as “the heartbeat of the team.”
Matt Chapman was activated off the 10-day injured list on Saturday after missing 23 games with a sprained right hand and immediately jumped back into action for the Giants, starting at third base and batting cleanup in his first game since June 8. Infielder Sergio Alcántara was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Chapman’s arrival couldn’t come at a better time for the Giants, who entered Saturday having lost 13 of their last 19 games to slide nine games behind the first-place Dodgers in the National League West. The club initially thought he’d be out until the final series before the All-Star break, but he did everything he could to shorten his timeline and ended up returning a week earlier than expected.
“I wanted to come back as fast as I could anyways,” Chapman said. “I don’t like watching. I want to be out there helping the guys. I did it as fast as the Giants would let me.”
“From the minute he’s gotten here, he’s embraced the leadership role,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He plays a certain style of baseball that we play. It’s huge to have him back. Not just the production part and what does on the field. It’s his presence in the dugout, on the field, in the clubhouse. It’s a big part of who we are.”
Chapman played in only one rehab game for Triple-A Sacramento, going 0-for-3 with a walk while logging five innings at third base on Friday, so it might take him some time to regain his timing at the plate. Still, the Giants believe his return should help tighten up their defense, especially after they committed three errors in their ugly 11-2 series-opening loss to the A’s.
“I’d like to think I can make an impact,” Chapman said. “Being out there every day, playing third base, being next to [shortstop] Willy [Adames] — I think the more guys we have in the lineup more consistently, the better. We’ve had a lot of guys playing third base and a lot more movement in the lineup. I think once you get more of a set lineup and your guys are in the lineup, everybody gets more comfortable and it’s better. I’m always trying to win and help the guys any way I can, so I’d like to think that hopefully I’ll bring a burst of energy to the guys.”
Chapman, 32, was batting .243 with an .812 OPS and 12 home runs in 65 games before going down with the hand injury last month. Now that he’s back, he’ll get his first chance to play alongside designated hitter Rafael Devers, who batted third on Saturday and could receive more lineup protection now that Chapman is hitting behind him.
“I’m pumped,” Chapman said. “I’m hoping I’m protecting him today. I’m just excited. I’ve played against him for a long time. I’m excited to be in the lineup with him and finally we get to play together. We’re one step closer to everybody being together and getting comfortable playing with each other and trying to really start playing the baseball that we expect to play.”
Bullpen shuffle
In need of a fresh arm for their bullpen, the Giants optioned Mason Black and recalled Tristan Beck from Sacramento on Saturday. They announced a more notable move a few hours later, placing left-hander Erik Miller on the 15-day injured list and selecting old friend Scott Alexander from Sacramento.
Losing Miller will be a blow for the Giants, as the 27-year-old logged a 1.50 ERA over 36 appearances while emerging as the team’s top lefty option this season. Without Miller, the Giants will likely need to ask more of fellow southpaw Joey Lucchesi and the 35-year-old Alexander, a Santa Rosa, Calif., native who is back for his second stint with the Giants.
Alexander recorded a 3.70 ERA over two seasons with San Francisco from 2022-23 and rejoined the organization on a Minor League deal last month after he was released by the Rockies. He gave up eight earned runs over 5 1/3 innings (13.50 ERA) in seven relief appearances for Sacramento this year.
Leave a Reply