A day after Aroldis Chapman’s nightmarish outing nearly cost the Yankees a victory over the Mets, Aaron Boone said he was confident the performance was not related to the left knee tendinitis that has affected the closer this season.
“I look at it as a bump in the road of what’s been a great season,” Boone said before Sunday’s Subway Series finale was rained out. “I think it’ll roll right off of him.”
It was arguably Chapman’s worst outing in nearly four years, as Chapman allowed an infield hit, three walks and a hit by pitch without retiring a batter in the top of the ninth, trying to protect a four-run lead.
Chapman had to be bailed out by Chasen Shreve, who earned the save in what turned into a one-run win.
Boone blamed a week off for Chapman as a possible reason for his struggles and insisted the left knee had not gotten worse.
“I don’t even look at it as we’re trying to stay away or protect him in certain situations,” Boone said. “I treat it as we’ll protect him just from overuse, like we do with any of our guys. Honestly, it has less to do with the knee. We’re comfortable he’s in a good place. [Saturday] was just a bad day.”
Boone also wasn’t sure if pitching in a non-save situation — which was the case Saturday when Chapman entered — might have been the cause.
“That’s tough to say,’’ Boone said. “I don’t know if it’s so much that. He was pitching on the seventh day [after six days off] and he knew if [the lead] was four or less, we’d turn to him. He just wasn’t on his game and lost his command.”
Gleyber Torres (hip) is expected to play in his second rehab game for Single-A Tampa on Monday. If that goes well, he would likely play again Tuesday and would join the Yankees on Wednesday against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“I watched a couple of his at-bats [Saturday],” Boone said. “He looked good, like he was getting out of the box well. Hopefully it’s a big step along the way to getting him back in Tampa.”
Boone said the team has not settled on a corresponding move for when Torres returns. Brandon Drury or Tyler Wade would figure to be likely candidates to be sent out. The manager added that Ronald Torreyes has been out for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre dealing with a family issue.
The Yankees entered Sunday having struck out the fourth-most times in the AL. Boone isn’t terribly bothered by the number, and he reiterated he doesn’t want his team changing its approach at the plate.
“I don’t love striking out, but not at the expense of sacrificing what we’re trying to do up there,” Boone said. “That gets you in trouble.”
Top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield had another stellar outing Saturday for SWB, allowing one run over 5 ²/₃ innings. Over his past four outings, the lefty has surrendered just three earned runs over 24 innings.
“He’s had another really good year,” Boone said. “He’s putting himself in position, short term, to be in consideration for a spot, rotation or bullpen, if we need it. He’s probably knocking on that door.”
Giovanny Gallegos was recalled from SWB before Sunday’s game, taking the place of Domingo Acevedo, who was sent back to Double-A Trenton on Saturday after not pitching in his one day in the majors.
