Outlook Matt Chapman
Matt Chapman's Power Slump Continues Amid Giants' Offensive Struggles
Matt Chapman continues to secure his role as the everyday starter at third base for the fourth-place Giants (24-38), but his bat remains cold. Over the last 30 days, he has struggled with a .202 batting average and just one home run, though he did spark a brief sign of life with a home run on June 1. With several key teammates like Heliot Ramos currently on the injured list, the Giants desperately need Chapman to anchor the middle of their underperforming lineup.
While Chapman's recent .233 batting average over the last 14 days is a slight step up, his mere two home runs on the season represent a major power outage compared to our projection of 15 long balls and his past 20-plus homer campaigns. His current .323 slugging percentage is well below his .430 mark from last year, suggesting he is due for positive power regression once his hard-contact rates normalize.
Looking at the final four games of the week, the Giants wrap up their series in Milwaukee against Coleman Crow before heading to Chicago to face a tough Cubs rotation. Favorable matchups against high-ERA pitchers like Jameson Taillon are offset by challenging appointments with Ben Brown (1.92 ERA) and Edward Cabrera, making Chapman a risky option. Fantasy managers should Sit him until the power stroke returns.
Updated 3 days ago
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Outlook Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales is sizzling at the plate, making him a must-start despite a tough upcoming slate of pitchers.
Nick Gonzales has been absolutely sizzling over the last week, batting .455 with two home runs and eight runs scored to boost the second-place Pirates (33-29). Despite a brief scare with knee discomfort in late May, he has avoided the injured list and remains locked in as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman.
Currently sporting a stellar .314 average on the year, Gonzales is vastly outperforming our model's projection of .259. While his recent power surge is likely to undergo some regression, his dramatically improved plate discipline this season suggests that his emergence as a high-average asset is entirely sustainable.
For the remainder of the week, the Pirates face a challenging road stretch against Houston and Atlanta. He will match up against Kai-Wei Teng (2.72 ERA) on Thursday before facing tough Braves starters like Martin Perez and Spencer Strider. Despite these difficult matchups, his elite current form makes him a mandatory option. Verdict: Start.
Updated 3 days ago
