Chapman had his next scheduled Cactus League appearance pushed from Wednesday to Thursday due to wet conditions, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Rainstorms blew threw Arizona on Wednesday afternoon and the Royals didn't want to risk an on-field mishap with their new high-leverage reliever. Chapman, signed to a one-year, $3.75 million contract in January, has recorded eight strikeouts through four innings this spring.
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Royals' Aroldis Chapman: Will make Cactus appearance Tuesday
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Chapman (mouth) is slated to make his Cactus League debut Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Chapman had been slated for a bullpen session Tuesday after suffering a split lip and a cracked tooth in a fall at home, but it appears he'll be thrown into game action instead. The veteran reliever inked a one-year deal with the Royals last month and is expected to be in the mix for saves along with Scott Barlow.
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Royals' Aroldis Chapman: Injures mouth in home accident
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Chapman required stitches on a split lip and suffered a cracked tooth after he slipped and fell at his house Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Chapman doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing extended time after the home accident, as he's expected to throw a bullpen session Tuesday before getting into a Cactus League game soon thereafter. The reliever joined the Royals on a one-year deal last month after spending the last six and a half seasons with the Yankees. The left-hander will look to recapture some of his former glory in 2023 after struggling to a career-worst 4.46 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 36.1 innings in 43 appearances with New York in 2022. Chapman is guaranteed $3.75 million on his deal, but the contract could escalate to a total value of $8.75 million based on performance bonuses for appearances and games finished. The Royals haven't formally clarified their plans for Chapman, but he could challenge Scott Barlow for the closer's role.
Chapman agreed to a one-year, $3.75 million contract with the Royals on Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
He'll have an opportunity to earn more in incentives. Chapman is coming off a disappointing season which saw him put up a 4.46 ERA with just nine saves for the Yankees, but it's possible he'll get another chance to close for the Royals. Scott Barlow should remain Kansas City's closer to open 2023 after he posted a 2.18 ERA last season, but Chapman could push for the job with a strong start to the campaign.
Chapman will not be included on the ALDS roster after failing to show up for a team workout, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.
Chapman had turned in scoreless appearances in six of his last seven outings of the regular season, but the team will come down hard on the reliever after he didn't show up to a scheduled team workout. With Chapman out of the bullpen mix, the Yankees will need to rely on Jonathan Loaisiga, Clarke Schmidt and Lucas Luetge in high-leverage spots during the ALDS. Manager Aaron Boone has not ruled Chapman out for the entire postseason at this point, per Meredith Marakovits of YES Network.
Yankees' Aroldis Chapman: Control struggles continue
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Chapman (3-4) took the loss against Baltimore on Sunday, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks in one-third of an inning. The only out he recorded was by strikeout.
Chapman entered with the score tied 1-1 in the seventh inning and allowed a leadoff single. He then issued two walks to load the bases before striking out Ryan Mountcastle. The veteran reliever couldn't follow up on that successful out, however, as he next walked Gunnar Henderson to allow the go-ahead run to cross the plate. Altogether, Chapman tossed just 12 of 26 pitches for strikes, and this was the fourth time in his past eight outings that he's walked multiple batters. He's posted an awful 7.1 BB/9 over 35.1 innings on the season, and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com suggests that Chapman is in danger of missing out on the Yankees' postseason roster.
Chapman (3-3) earned the win with a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Pirates. He struck out one and did not walk a batter.
In his second appearance since being reinstated from the injured list, Chapman pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn his third win of the season. The outing likely was intended to just get the veteran some work, but the Yankees pulled off a remarkable comeback capped off by a walkoff grand slam by Giancarlo Stanton to secure Chapman's win. With Clay Holmes looking shakier of late, Chapman may well find himself back in the closer role if he strings together a couple more scoreless outings.
Yankees' Aroldis Chapman: Works scoreless inning in return
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Chapman pitched a scoreless inning against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter.
Chapman missed nearly a month due to a leg infection, but he was reinstated Friday and made his return to the mound Saturday. The veteran reliever was used in a low-leverage situation in the seventh inning, so it appears that the Yankees will ease him back before potentially giving him high-leverage work (though likely not as a closer, since Clay Holmes has taken hold of that role). Though Chapman didn't allow any runs in his return, he threw only nine of 17 pitches for strikes and walked a batter. Control has been been a major issue for Chapman this season -- his 6.5 K/9 is on pace to be his worst mark since 2011 and is fifth-worst among MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings.
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Yankees' Aroldis Chapman: Reinstated Friday
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Chapman (leg) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Brewers.
Clay Holmes has a 2.89 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB in 9.1 innings since regaining the closer's role in late August. Chapman, who struck out five and walked two in two scoreless rehab innings, may get some save chances, but they could be few and far between.
