Giants could find a silver lining in Matt Chapman's injury

DENVER — San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman was on his way to a potential All-Star Game nomination, but now the veteran third baseman has hit the injured list, throwing a wrench in his season and a roadblock in front of the high-flying Giants.

Before San Francisco opened a three-game series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies, Chapman was placed on the injured list with right hand inflammation (retroactive to June 9). The injury is a blow to the Giants, who entered Tuesday just 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings. Chapman currently leads the Giants in home runs (12) and is second in OPS+ (134, behind the 142 posted by Heliot Ramos).

"Every team goes through injuries, so we've actually been probably pretty lucky," said Giants manager Bob Melvin. "As far as injuries go, some guys are probably a little more valuable than others. Obviously, he means a lot to us but Casey gets a chance to play the position that he's used to playing."

And promoting the potential of Casey Schmitt and giving him an opportunity to settle in at third base is how the Giants are approaching Chapman's absence (which Melvin added could be longer than 10 days).

Schmitt, selected in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, has played all four infield positions this season, with the Giants trying to find somewhere to put him with Chapman playing so well at third. However, Schmitt will now take over primary duties at the hot corner, beginning on Tuesday at Coors Field.

"He's a natural third baseman, there's no doubt," Melvin said of Schmitt. "I think also he's playing a position where you don't have to think a lot, as opposed to having to play short the other day, play some second base and learn first base. That can kind of filter into the offense as well."

Schmitt has been off to a slow start this season, hitting just .161 with one RBI over his last 13 games. That certainly doesn't match the kind of production that Chapman has brought the surprising Giants this season, but Melvin is hopeful that settling in at third will help boost Schmitt's production.

"It's a good opportunity for him," Melvin said. "He's a terrific defender at third base, as we've seen, and there's some bat to like too. Hopefully he picks it up for us and has a nice run with it."