Giants lose Matt Chapman to 10-day IL with abdominal strain

PHOENIX — Already without their starting shortstop, the Giants will have to navigate at least the next 10 days without the other half of the left side of their infield, too.

Third baseman Matt Chapman was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with an abdominal strain. Christian Koss, a utility infielder, was called up from Triple-A so that the Giants had at least the bare minimum number of infielders.

Koss was immediately inserted into the starting lineup at shortstop with Willy Adames out for the third straight game with back spasms. Casey Schmitt, who filled in at short the past two games, moved over to third, his natural position.

The Giants had declined to make a roster move despite Adames being forced from Sunday’s game, leaving them without an infielder to take Chapman’s place when he had to leave Tuesday’s loss in the seventh inning. Outfielder Jonah Cox, who hadn’t played the infield since college, was forced to play second base while Luis Arraez covered third in his first time playing the position since 2022.

Chapman said he had been dealing with off-and-on discomfort around his hip flexor and into his lower midsection since the start of May. But it became unbearable after he made a barehanded play to retire Gabriel Moreno for the final out of the sixth inning.

Chapman attempted to stay in the game and took his next at-bat in the top of the seventh but was clearly in pain and was replaced on defense in the bottom half of the inning.

The timing is unfortunate given Adames’ current absence, but the Giants are hopeful the shortstop will be ready to return Friday when they begin a series against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Additionally, Chapman was already planning on missing three games sometime during what will now be an IL stint. His wife, Taylor, is expecting their first son, Jack, this weekend.