NO WEEK LINK
Time off serves Chapman well as lefty hits 105 mph
The Yankees figured out how to restore Aroldis Chapman’s effectivity: Give him a week off.
Chapman finally made his return to the mound in the Yankees’ 4-1 loss to the Red Sox on Friday night and hit 105 mph for the first time this season.
“He was pretty rested,” manager Joe Girardi said with a laugh after Chapman struck out three of the four batters he faced in a scoreless eighth.
The lefty hadn’t pitched since Aug. 25, when he surrendered a goahead homer to Seattle’s Yonder Alonso in the 11th inning of a loss to the Mariners. He underwent an MRI exam on his elbow Sunday after complaining of what he called minor discomfort.
The home run allowed to Alonso was the second by a lefty in less than two weeks against Chapman — who had given up just one in his career before that.
Chapman, who lost his closer’s job in Boston two weeks ago following four straight outings in which he gave up runs, displayed an effective slider and changeup in addition to perhaps his best fastball of the year in relief of Sonny Gray.
“If anything, it would be the rest, I guess,” Chapman said through an interpreter of his increased velocity.
And he didn’t need to look at the scoreboard to see that he was throwing harder.
“You definitely feel it,” said Chapman, who has been working with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on his fastball grip.
Chapman got Andrew Benintendi swinging on a slider and then allowed a single to Mookie Betts.
Betts easily swiped second after Chapman glanced at first and then never looked back with Mitch Moreland at the plate.
Chapman whiffed Moreland on a 103 mph fastball and then hit 105 mph with Dustin Pedroia at the plate before getting him looking on a 93 mph slider.
“He had some good stuff, man,” Pedroia said. “The last pitch he threw me, that was nasty.”
Despite his dominance Friday, Chapman has some work to do before he regains the Yankees’ trust — and they didn’t sign him to a five-year, $86 million deal last off- season to pitch in non-save situations.
And with Friday’s outcome, the Yankees have lost the past five games in which Chapman has pitched.
If he’s bothered by not closing, Chapman isn’t showing it.
“Closing doesn’t worry me,” Chapman said. “The focus here is to win games and be available for your team.”
The Yankees won’t know if Chapman has regained his form until he can pitch like he did on Friday consistently — and Chapman admitted as much.
Asked if his “slump” was over, Chapman said: “Maybe. It’s hard to say. This was a good one today. I’m hoping the next ones are just like this one.”