On Friday September 12, 2025, San Francisco Giants insider Susan Slusser reported that Giants third baseman Matt Chapman’s one-game suspension appeal was successful.
Instead of missing a game, Chapman will reportedly pay a fine.
Chapman was suspended back on September 3, 2025 for his role in a brawl between the Giants and Colorado Rockies. Chapman physically confronted Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland after Freeland yelled at Giants slugger Rafael Devers for his behavior during a home run trot.
Willy Adames and Chapman was ejected from the game before either of them took an at-bat. It was only the second ejection of Chapman’s 9 year MLB career. Both times he has been ejected, it was because he was defending a teammate from a hostile opponent.
Recently, people close to Chapman revealed that he is so passionate about defending his teammates because of the bullying he endured as a kid due to his Tourrette syndrome. He is loyal to people he cares about and wants to defend them from any kind of bullying.
Chapman publicly talked about living with Tourette’s for the first time in the wake of the ejection.
The Giants Need Chapman Desperately
It’s not an exaggeration to say that one missed game from Chapman could have been the difference between a playoff appearance and playoff elimination for the Giants.
Chapman is one of the most valuable third baseman in all of baseball. He has a remarkable 4.3 bWAR in only 113 games. By comparison, San Diego Padres superstar third baseman Manny Machado has only a 3.4 bWAR in 147 games.
To realize just how important Chapman is to the Giants, fans need only to look at just how much better off they are with him than without him.
With Chapman in the lineup, they are 62-51. In the 33 games he missed due to injuries, they are 12-21.
Chapman’s traditional stats may not make it seem like he’s a franchise player. He is hitting only .243 with 21 home runs and 56 RBI.
But his defensive play is among the best in baseball and his veteran clubhouse leadership is so vital to a young, streaky Giants team.
If Chapman was suspended, he would have had to miss the Giants’ Friday, September 12 matchup against the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
This is a huge rivalry game for the Giants, who need to at least win this series to stay in contention.
Missing Chapman would have made it a lot harder to win on Friday. That could have set a bad tone for the rest of the series.
Giants Lineup Alongside Chapman
After hearing Matt Chapman’s suspension was lifted, Giants fans had no doubt that he would be in the lineup on Friday against the Dodgers. Having his suspension lifted and then sitting him anyway would just be silly.
And sure enough, Chapman is hitting fifth and playing third base.
But the Giants had some decisions to make besides Chapman.
Ultimately, they are fielding what could be considered one of their better situational lineups of the year.
Dominic Smith is starting at first base and hitting in the cleanup spot for the Giants. Smith gives the Giants a lefty bat to counter the Dodgers’ right-handed starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in the middle of the lineup.
Smith has also just been one of the better hitters on the Giants this season, with a .286 average. Even though he’s not an extreme power threat, he’s one of the best bets to hit with runners on base.
Known Dodger killer Casey Schmitt is in the lineup at second base and batting seventh, starting over Christian Koss.
And energizer bunny Drew Gilbert is in the lineup, batting ninth and playing right field over Luis Matos. Gilbert is in the lineup to give the Giants another left handed bat.
Giants fans, what do you think of the Matt Chapman news? Are you excited or nervous for this weekend’s Dodgers series?
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