Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, in fact, will play against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Oracle Park.
Chapman’s status was in doubt as he awaited a ruling on his appeal of a one-game suspension handed down by MLB for his involvement in a benches-clearing incident against the Colorado Rockies.
The 32-year-old’s appeal was successful, the team announced Friday.
“Matt Chapman’s one-game suspension was dropped as part of a settlement agreement with the Commissioner’s Office that will require him to pay a fine,” the team posted on X.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser first reported news of Chapman’s successful appeal on Friday.
If the appeal had been rejected, Chapman would have served the one-game suspension Friday night.
So, Chapman’s only punishment for shoving Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland during the Sept. 2 altercation is an undisclosed fine from the league.
Chapman, Freeland and Giants shortstop Willy Adames all were ejected from the Sept. 2 game after the Rockies’ starter took exception to San Francisco star Rafael Devers admiring a home run.
Chapman, this season, is slashing .243/.352/.458 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 56 RBI.
As the Giants fight for an NL Wild Card spot, they need Chapman in the lineup, especially with three important games against the Dodgers this weekend. A couple of losses against their arch-rival could be devastating to their playoff hopes.
The Giants (74-72) enter Friday’s series opener 1.5 games behind the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot. The Cincinnati Reds are tied with San Francisco.
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