5 questions the Yankees must answer before the Playoffs

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 30: Luis Severino #40 (L) and Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 21: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees during batting practice before the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 21, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

4. Can Aroldis Chapman close?

The Yankees’ decision to activate Chapman today is obviously good news for the club. At his best, he’s arguably the most dominant reliever in major league baseball. It’s an open question whether or not his balky knee is going to let him be that type of pitcher this October.

The good news is that he has a couple of weeks to get himself into game shape. You can throw all of the simulated games you want, but nothing can replicate the adrenaline and pressure of taking the mound in an actual game. It’s imperative for Boone to give Chapman a couple of outings down the stretch so he can regain his command.

Those outings will also tell Boone a lot about what to expect from Chapman in the playoffs. Remember, he isn’t the only guy on this team that can close important games. Zach Britton came in and shut down the Red Sox in the opener of that important series in the Bronx. He or David Robertson could certainly fill in as the team’s closer during one postseason game or series.

With that being said, not being able to count on Chapman as a weapon out of the bullpen would be a huge loss for the Yankees. If he can return to his best before the regular season finishes, his presence effectively allows New York to shorten the game to eight innings. That can be a massive boost in October. Chapman’s ability to be effective is a huge question mark for the Yankees as the season draws to a close.

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