A's Gold Glove predictions: Matt Chapman, Matt Olson have best chances

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When the 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners are announced Sunday, the A's will have four chances to win. Their entire infield made the cut as finalists.

Third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Marcus Semien, second baseman Jed Lowrie, and first baseman Matt Olson are each looking to become the first A's players to win a Gold Glove since Josh Reddick in 2012. Here's a look at their competition:

Third Base

Nominees: Matt Chapman (OAK), Alex Bregman (HOU), Jose Ramirez (CLE)

Chapman is the clear-cut favorite here. The A's third baseman led all of MLB with 29 defensive runs saved and a 19.5 SABR Defensive Index rating. He led all third basemen with a 10.9 ultimate zone rating (UZR) and .853 zone rating.

Bregman had an outstanding season in Houston, both offensively and defensively, and will receive plenty of MVP votes. Ramirez likely will too. But defensively, Chapman is in a league of his own.

Prediction: Matt Chapman

Shortstop

Nominees: Marcus Semien (OAK), Andrelton Simmons (LAA), Francisco Lindor (CLE)

Semien has made incredible strides defensively, but he is probably the long shot of this group. Simmons led AL shortstops with 21 defensive runs saved, Lindor had 14, and Semien finished with nine. Simmons also led the way with a 19.7 UZR.

Semien's best case is his 11.6 SABR Defensive Index, the best among AL shortstops. Simmons and Lindor tied for third at 8.0. Still, Simmons has to be considered the favorite.

Prediction: Andrelton Simmons

Second Base

Nominees: Jed Lowrie (OAK), Ian Kinsler (BOS), Rougned Odor (TEX)

Lowrie led AL second basemen with a .993 fielding percentage, committing just four errors all season. His .845 zone rating also ranked first in the group and his 6.1 ultimate zone rating was third.

However, Lowrie only tallied one defensive run saved, compared to 10 for both Kinsler and Odor. Kinsler led AL second basemen with a 7.0 SABR Defensive Index rating. Odor was second at 6.4 and Lowrie third at 4.9. Kinsler is probably a slight favorite over Odor.

Prediction: Ian Kinsler

First Base

Nominees: Matt Olson (OAK), Mitch Moreland (BOS), Justin Smoak (TOR)

Olson should have a strong chance to give the A's a Gold Glove at each corner of the infield. He led AL first basemen in the SABR Defensive Index at 5.8, compared to Moreland's 1.5 and Smoak's -0.2.

Olson led first basemen with 14 defensive runs saved, a .913 zone rating, and 11.6 ultimate zone rating. Moreland had 0 DRS and Smoak finished with -3. Olson was also the only first baseman in the majors to play in all 162 games.

Prediction: Matt Olson

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