10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Wed 8/5/20 12:32 AM

Chapman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
Chapman lifted his second homer of the year against Rangers starter Lance Lynn in the seventh inning. The third baseman then got aboard with a single and scored on Stephen Piscotty's walk-off grand slam in the ninth. Chapman has posted four RBI and five runs scored with a .222/.255/.422 triple-slash line in 11 games this year, but it appears he's heating up with hits in three straight contests.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Thu 7/30/20 1:44 PM

Chapman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run to account for the Athletics' only run in a loss to the Rockies on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Chapman's 391-foot shot to left field off German Marquez in the first inning continued an encouraging offensive trend for the third baseman, who'd started the year in a 1-for-12 slump over the first three games. Subsequent to that brief skid, Chapman has hit safely in three straight, and the good wood he's been putting on the ball has now led to two extra-base hits during that span.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Mon 7/27/20 7:25 PM

Chapman went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one strikeout in Monday's 3-0 win over the Angels.
EDGE Analysis
This was a much-needed breakout day at the plate for the slick-fielding third baseman. He was 1-for-12 through the first three games but is now batting .250 with a .732 OPS.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Sun 7/26/20 1:28 PM

Chapman, who entered Sunday's action 1-for-9 over his first two games, is also showing some signs of frustration with his future financial outlook, Shayna Rubin of the Marin Independent Journal reports.
EDGE Analysis
Chapman is under team control through 2023, was originally on the books for a modest $623,500 this season (now prorated to $230,926) as per Spotrac and isn't slated for unrestricted free agency until he's 30. That's a frustrating overall outlook for a player that, this year's slow start (1-for-9) over a very modest two-game sample notwithstanding, has arguably outpaced his current compensation with 60 home runs, 159 RBI and a pair of Gold Gloves over his first two full seasons as an everyday player. However, the Athletics, already notorious for a conservative financial approach when it comes to doling out big paydays, could become even more prudent in that regard in light of the significant revenue losses in 2020. Chapman notably stated "it's every player's goal to get to free agency and be able to choose where you go" during a recent appearance on ESPN's Opening Night broadcast of the Dodgers-Giants game, lending credence to the notion he's already playing with his financial future weighing fairly heavily on his mind.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Tue 4/21/20 8:46 PM

Chapman could reach the next level of his development as a hitter by more consistently laying off high or outside pitches, Owen Pointdexter of Forbes reports.
EDGE Analysis
Pointdexter breaks down what the already impressive third baseman could do to further improve, and better pitch selection is one area he identifies as likely critical to Chapman becoming an even more consistent hitter. It's noted Chapman's teammate Mark Canha focused on not swinging at offerings outside the zone last season and posted a breakout year, and that a similar approach by the 26-year-old could lead to both more power and a higher on-base percentage. Pointdexter rightly points out that Chapman has traditionally done only modest damage on high or outside pitches in his career, thereby suggesting that laying off more often doesn't carry much of a risk in terms of missed opportunity.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Fri 3/20/20 1:46 AM

Chapman was hitting .238 (5-for-21) with three extra-base hits (one double, two home runs), six RBI, six walks and seven runs across 10 Cactus League contests before spring training was suspended.
EDGE Analysis
The slugging third baseman's batting average over the small sample may not be aesthetically pleasing, but Chapman was on base plenty when also factoring in his walks and clearly put good wood on the ball more often than not when hitting safely. Chapman heads into 2020 with massive expectations after generating career highs in home runs (36), RBI (91), walks (73) and runs (102) across 156 games.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Tue 2/18/20 1:05 AM

Chapman worked on his hitting mechanics throughout the offseason in an effort to improve his performance against elevated fastballs and offspeed pitches, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
At first glance, Chapman's career-high 36 home runs and 91 RBI imply there weren't many flaws with his work in the batter's box. However, the 26-year-old also slumped to a .194 average over his final 58 games of the campaign, which left him with a pedestrian .249 average for the season. Chapman is already an elite defender who's earned Gold and Platinum Gloves for his work at third base, but he enters spring training with a goal of hitting .300 and reaching the 40-homer mark for the first time in his career.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Sun 9/29/19 12:58 PM

Chapman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Seattle, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Athletics clinched home-field advantage for Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game on Saturday, so it's no surprise to see him receive the day off in the finale. Sheldon Neuse will cover third base in his place Sunday.

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Fri 9/27/19 3:16 AM

Chapman went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Thursday's win over Seattle.
EDGE Analysis
Chapman accounted for the winning margin in the 3-1 contest with a two-run shot to center field in the second inning. The homer was his second in as many days and fifth overall in September. Despite hitting only .247 this season, the 26-year-old has set career highs in homers (36), RBI (91), runs scored (101) and walks (73).

10DMatt Chapman
3B SF
Thu 9/26/19 3:11 PM

Chapman went 2-for-5 with a go-ahead two-run home run in a win over the Angels on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Chapman erased a 2-1 deficit and set the Athletics up for a key victory by slugging a 436-foot shot to center in the ninth inning with Marcus Semien aboard. The power-hitting third baseman has parlayed just 11 hits in September into 14 RBI, with his five homers during the month playing a pivotal part. Chapman's month could be even bigger were it not for his significant troubles making consistent contact otherwise, as he's struck out on 30 occasions and has only gone without a strikeout in three of 21 games this month.