The New York Yankees have placed Aroldis Chapman on the 10 day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.
So far, the New York Yankees have been surprising everyone with how well they’re doing. Entering Mother’s Day, they lead the American League East with a 21-12 record. However, it’s about to get a lot tougher for them, as their bullpen depth will get tested. The Yankees have announced Aroldis Chapman will be put on the 10 day disabled list with left shoulder rotator cuff inflammation.
With their star closer out, they will likely turn to Dellin Betances, their usual set up man. He has minimal experience closing and certainly has what it takes to be a lights out reliever. However, Betances is more used to pitching in the seventh and eighth innings than the ninth. Although he as been used in high leverage situations, much like a closer faces regularly. So Betances should be fine as a closer.
The issue could be replacing him as a setup man. Part of the reason the Yankees have been so good is they have a clear bridge from the seventh inning to Chapman in the ninth. Betances is a very important member of that bridge. So far this season, he has a 0.77 ERA, striking out 22 batters in 11.2 innings.
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Chapman has been good for the Yankees so far this season. He has seven saves, though his ERA is a bit high at 3.55, which is his highest since his second MLB season in 2011. Chapman has 21 strikes out in 12.2 innings with six walks. He’s been a bit unlucky, allowing 8.9 hits per nine innings pitched, which is the highest mark of his career by a significant margin. The Yankees have an immediate replacement for Chapman in their setup man, but can the rest of their bullpen step up to create a bridge to Betances in the ninth inning?