Key stat highlights why SF Giants power-hitting bat is so key to team's success

The SF Giants are a much better team when Matt Chapman is in the lineup. In fact, they have a 60-49 reocrd in games he plays, and a 12-21 record when he is not in the lineup.

Key stat highlights why SF Giants power-hitting bat is so key to team's success

The Giants have been one of the best teams in baseball lately. Rafael Devers and Willy Adames have been a big part of that. Since August 1, Devers has hit 12 home runs, which is tied for fourth in baseball during that stretch. On the other hand, Adames is close to reaching 30 home runs, which would be the first time a Giants hitter has done that since Barry Bonds in 2004.

However, the Giants' season has closely aligned with Chapman's availability. The Giants struggled following the Devers trade. While the left-handed bat got off to a slow start, the team's struggles extended well beyond him.

It was a lazy talking point to try and connect Devers to the team's poor win-loss record following the deal. However, that became a common topic of conversation, even if the team's struggles were more of a coincidence than anything else.

Five days before the Devers trade, Matt Chapman was placed on the injured list. He jammed his throwing hand while diving back to first base in a game against the Atlanta Braves. The injury sidelined him for 23 games, and that is when the Giants' season began heading south.

Chapman returned in the middle of July, but struggled upon his return. He even admitted that the injured hand was still bothering him, so he spent some more time on the injured list in August. Since his return, the right-handed bat is hitting .310/.434/.667 (200 wRC+) with four home runs, 10 RBI, and 11 runs in 53 plate appearances.

When Chapman returned from the injured list on August 23, the Giants had a 61-68 record. At that point, the season looked lost and it felt like they would be making sweeping changes this offseason.

The Giants have put together a winning streak since then, winning 11 of their last 13 games. At 72-70, they are back in the playoff picture, even if the odds remain low. Of course, this turnaround can be traced to Chapman's return from the injured list.

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