San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who hasn’t played in almost six weeks because of a strained abdominal muscle, was diagnosed with a sports hernia and expects to undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday.

All signs were pointing to surgery after an MRI exam last week confirmed that Chapman had a core muscle injury and the team announced that he would fly to Philadelphia to be examined by Dr. William Meyers, whose specialty is repairing sports hernias. Chapman told reporters at Oracle Park on Friday that he anticipates Meyers will recommend surgery.

Chapman, 33, played through the injury for several weeks before aggravating it in a June 30 game at Arizona. He ramped up baseball activities and was swinging without pain but still felt the injury while running.

“We’ve been pushing, trying to get ready this whole last month,” Chapman said last week. “Honestly, I felt like I was getting close. Then we ramped up and tried to put me in game situations … and it just hasn’t been recovering to a spot where we feel like I can play. I can’t come back and play my very first game already playing through pain again.”

The five-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman hit .235/.324/.368 with seven home runs and a career-low 97 OPS+. There were times when his bat went so quiet he might have needed a library card to check it out of the rack. He went a career-long 15 games in May without scoring a run.

His first home run of the season came on March 31. His second homer came on June 1.

There was no hiding Chapman’s struggles at the plate amid a team-wide slump in the first two months of the season. The lack of run production, along with a combustible bullpen and a neophyte coaching staff, combined to cook the team’s postseason aspirations before Flag Day. At least Chapman was able to draw a decent number of walks on a team that continues to rank distantly last in the category and provide value with his defense at third base.

Chapman’s 2.9 bWAR is second on the team behind All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez, who was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline.

Chapman is finishing the second season in a six-year, $151 million extension that he signed in September, 2024. He’ll make annual salaries of $25 million through 2030 and has a full no-trade clause.

With Casey Schmitt also out for the season following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the Giants are likely to use some combination of Christian Koss, Osleivis Basabe and Buddy Kennedy to cover the position for the remainder of the season.

Power-hitting prospect Parks Harber also can play third base but he’s not on the 40-man roster and won’t have to be added after the season to shield him from a potential Rule 5 draft. Because a lockout is expected after the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and players on the 40-man roster could not be contacted by teams or play games until an agreement is in place,  the Giants might prefer to let Harber finish the season at Triple-A Sacramento.

The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles clash on Friday at 8:15 p.m. ET, beginning a three-game series at Globe Life Field. Nathan Eovaldi (10-9, 4.31 ERA) will start for the Rangers, who are 57-58 this season and second in the AL West. Shane Baz (4-10, 3.86 ERA) is expected to start for the Orioles, who are 56-59 and fourth in the AL East.

How to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers

Orioles vs. Rangers odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Rangers -143
• Underdog Moneyline: Orioles +120
• Total: 7.5
• Total Over Odds: -110
• Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Rangers

Kyle Higashioka: 10 Day IL (Flexor tendon), Josh Jung: 10 Day IL (Calf), Jose Corniell: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Jack Leiter: 15 Day IL (Ankle), Jakob Junis: 15 Day IL (Groin), Danny Jansen: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Robert Garcia: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jalen Beeks: 60 Day IL (Back), Michael Helman: 60 Day IL (Hand), Carter Baumler: 60 Day IL (Ribs)

Orioles

Samuel Basallo: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Blaze Alexander: 10 Day IL (Hand), Zach Eflin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Felix Bautista: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Keegan Akin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Chris Bassitt: 60 Day IL (Back), Ryan Helsley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Mountcastle: 60 Day IL (Foot), Jordan Westburg: 60 Day IL (Ucl), Colin Selby: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Stats to know

• Texas’ Ezequiel Duran has hit 13 home runs this season. He has also tallied 63 RBIs and has scored 51 runs. In 403 plate appearances, he has recorded a .276 BA, .328 OBP and .459 SLG with a 6.9% walk rate and a 23.1% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording nine steals on 11 attempts.
• In 462 plate appearances, Brandon Nimmo has slashed .274/.342/.445 this season. He has hit 12 long balls and driven in 43 runs with a strikeout rate of 21.4% and a walk rate of 8.2%. He has six stolen bases on seven attempts. He has come around to score 48 times.
• Pete Alonso has hit 23 home runs this season. He has also tallied 71 RBIs (12th in MLB) and has scored 68 runs. In 498 plate appearances, he has recorded a .249 BA, .343 OBP and .458 SLG with an 11.4% walk rate and a 24.9% strikeout rate.
• In 518 plate appearances, Gunnar Henderson has slashed .218/.297/.393 this season. He has hit 18 long balls and driven in 47 runs with a strikeout rate of 23% and a walk rate of 8.5%. He has stolen eight bases on 12 attempts and has scored 65 runs.

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