New York Post

Chapman’s loss will test deep bullpen

- By GEORGE A. KING III

MIAMI — Aaron Boone is confident there are enough quality arms in the Yankees’ bullpen to cover for losing Aroldis Chapman to the disabled list.

With Dellin Betances, Zach Britton, David Robertson, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder, Boone is correct. Betances is among the best relievers in baseball and Britton, who has pitched better of late, was an elite closer (ALleading 47 saves) in 2016. Robertson has been an All-Star as a closer and Green and Holder have been invaluable throughout the season.

However, Boone isn’t downplayin­g Wednesday’s news that Chapman, an All-Star this season, was going on the 10-day DL with tendinitis in his left knee.

“Anytime you take a guy like Aroldis Chapman out of the bullpen it’s a blow,’’ Boone said. “We feel we can handle it. We certainly feel we have guys who can handle it.’’ For how long? That is a question nobody could confidentl­y answer before the Yankees looked to sweep a two-game series against Derek Jeter’s lowly Marlins at Marlins Park on Wednesday night.

“I am confident that he will play a major role down the stretch,’’ Boone said of Chapman, who essentiall­y removed himself from Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over the Marlins in the 12th inning when the pain in his knee was too much.

Chapman said he didn’t know how long he would be sidelined. He might after being examined by a doctor in New York on Friday.

“We don’t have a set time,’’ said Chapman, who has converted 31 of 33 save chances. “Right now we will see how it goes. We will have a better idea as we follow it. You hope it is 10 days, take this time to recuperate and be 100 percent. That’s what we hope for.’’

Chapman has been dealing with tendinitis in the knee since May, but Tuesday night it was enough to signal for trainer Steve Donohue after walking the leadoff hitter in the 12th.

“The pain is not different, it’s the same pain,’’ Chapman said via an interprete­r as his knee was smothered in ice. “This time [the pain] was more intense. To me it felt like a good time to stop.’’

In Betances, Britton and Robertson, the Yankees have a trio with a combined 306 saves, and Boone said he will tap into them as a group instead of installing a regular closer with Chapman shelved.

“A little bit of everyone,’’ Boone said of how he will replace Chapman. “It will depend on who we are playing and matchups.’’

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