MLB bails out SF Giants with big Matt Chapman news just in time for Dodgers series

The SF Giants got some great news ahead of their pivotal series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Their third baseman Matt Chapman had a successful appeal of his one-game suspension which means he will not have to sit out a game.

This news comes via Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle who was the first to report it. Instead, Chapman will just have to pay a fine which is consistent with the punishment meted out to the other players involved in a scuffle following Rafael Devers' home run against the Colorado Rockies. This is a huge relief since it was a distinct possibility that Chapman would miss Friday's game against Los Angeles had the suspension been upheld.

SF Giants will not lose Matt Chapman for first game of Dodgers series

After Devers hit his home run in Colorado and Kyle Freeland had words for him, Chapman came running out of the dugout and shoved Freeland. Chapman, Giants shortstop Willy Adames, and Freeland were all ejected from the game but Chapman was the only one who got a suspension which seemed a little bit unfair.

Chapman did not do anything that egregious in the shuffle so MLB made the right call by getting rid of his suspension especially since he basically was suspended from that game after being ejected since he got tossed in the top of the first inning before he had an at-bat or took the field.

The Giants can breathe easier knowing they have their valuable third baseman out on the field against the Dodgers. San Francisco is simply a better team when Chapman is in the lineup and that fact is borne out by the numbers as well as the general feeling of having a player as sure-gloved at him at third who can also do damage with the bat.

This series against Los Angeles is going to be incredibly important as the Giants look to snag a spot in the playoffs. They need to play nearly flawless ball coming down the stretch especially against a team as strong as the Dodgers which is why not having Chapman even just for one game could have made all the difference.

Thankfully, he will be out there tonight against the Dodgers and hopefully he can contribute to a Giants victory in a major way.

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