The most frustrating season of Aroldis Chapman’s career took another bizarre turn Saturday with the Yankees veteran landing on the 15-day injured list, the result of a leg infection from a new tattoo. Chapman’s absence further depletes a Yankees bullpen that was already without Scott Effross (shoulder) and Clay Holmes (back), though there’s optimism the latter will return when first eligible following a successful bullpen session on Friday.
A seven-time All-Star, Chapman was demoted from the closer’s role earlier this year, though the 34-year-old is still one of the most feared relief arms in baseball when healthy and throwing strikes. Chapman’s early-season struggles appeared to be behind him until a recent setback, yielding runs in back-to-back outings against Toronto and Tampa Bay, walking four of nine batters in that span.
The owner of a career-worst 4.70 ERA, Chapman has alternated between disastrous and unhittable, not surrendering his first run until May 11th, then allowing one in each of his next six appearances. By now, fans are used to this Jekyll and Hyde act from the maddeningly inconsistent Chapman, an erratic but gifted hurler who, in his prime, could throw harder than any pitcher in the history of the sport.
The Yankees don’t have a set closer at the moment, employing a committee approach with Wandy Peralta, Jonathan Loaisiga and Lou Trivino all candidates to pitch the ninth inning. To their credit, the Bombers have played much better baseball of late, rebounding from a miserable 3-14 stretch by winning five straight while stretching their division lead to nine games over second-place Tampa in the AL East.
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