The Yankees continue to win, but continue to be hit with injuries in the process.
The latest blow was to their bullpen, as the team announced Saturday that closer Aroldis Chapman has been placed on the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation. Nick Nelson was called up from Triple-A to replace Chapman.
Chapman last pitched on Thursday night, allowing a walk and a hit in a scoreless ninth to lock down a 5-3 win and secure his 23rd save of the season. The lefty flamethrower had battled a fingernail issue for a portion of the season and was dreadful for an extended stretch, but had appeared to be settling back into form, allowing just four hits and one run in his last 11 innings of work, striking out 19 along the way. Prior to that, he had allowed 15 runs on 14 hits with nine walks in 5.2 innings.
After Saturday's win over Seattle, Aaron Boone told reporters that the MRI on Chapman's elbow was "good news," and the reliever could be back after the 10 days (his IL stint is retroactive to Friday).
With Chapman down, Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green are candidates to slide into the closing role, but the team’s pitching staff is significantly depleted, with Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery still out due to positive COVID-19 tests, and Domingo German, Luis Severino, and Corey Kluber all still on the IL.
Chapman’s entry to the IL is the team’s 39th different IL stint this season, tying the major league record they set during the “Next Man Up” run of 2019, according to the YES Network. This year’s total does include COVID-19 IL stints.
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