Relief in sight: Chapman return near
With Aroldis Chapman slated for another bullpen session Saturday — and potentially a simulated game Monday — both the Yankees and their closer are convinced he’ll be back well before the end of the season.
“Very optimistic. I feel that there’s a very good chance that I’ll get to pitch before the season’s over,” Chapman said through an interpreter before the Yankees opened their homestand Friday with an 11-0 rout of Toronto.
The All-Star closer has been on the disabled list since Aug. 22 with left knee tendinitis. But after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday in Tampa and having treatment on Thursday, Chapman is slated for another bullpen session and then a simulated game in what could be his last step before being activated.
“He’s doing really well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “If all goes well in those next two [bullpens], he should move to being activated for us.”
Chapman — who pitched through the injury since at least early May, and had two plateletrich plasma injections to accelerate healing — is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA, 31 saves and 84 strikeouts in 50 appearances.
“I’m feeling really well right now,’’ Chapman said.
Boone said he would like to get the lefty in a “handful” of games to get him ready for the playoffs.
“The knee is much better, the arm is great and overall, in general, I just feel fresh,’’ Chapman said. “Now it’s a matter of building some strength again.”
Brett Gardner returned to the lineup Friday after missing the past two games in Minnesota with cuts on his lower left leg suffered when he dove on the warning track at Target Field on Monday.
“There are no issues,’’ said Gardner, who went 1-for-5 with two RBIs in the victory.
Giancarlo Stanton entered Friday 4-for-41 in his previous 11 games, with just three doubles, five walks and 20 strikeouts. But he showed signs of life against the Jays, going 1-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
“I think it’s just finding that timing and rhythm again,’’ Boone said of what Stanton needed to do to regain his form.
Boone said Sonny Gray was back in the bullpen after he struggled once again as a starter in a loss in Minnesota.
The Yankees are not expected to be in on two top Cuban prospects who became free agents on Friday. Brothers Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. both outfielders, are eligible to sign with teams, but the Yankees already made a significant investment internationally this year.