Chapman Cuffed

Aroldis Chapman lands on the ten day disabled list with a rotator cuff injury:

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday because of inflammation in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder. The injury was revealed by a magnetic resonance imaging test on Saturday after Chapman complained of pain on his pitching side following an appearance in Friday night’s 6-1 loss to the Houston Astros.

General Manager Brian Cashman said Chapman would be shut down for two weeks and unlikely to appear in a game for at least a month. In the interim, Manager Joe Girardi said Dellin Betances, the bullpen’s setup man, would assume the closer’s role.

Rotator cuff injuries used to be common, but doctors and trainers figured out how to better strengthen the muscles that combine to form the cuff to prevent the tears that used to end pitching careers.

Meanwhile, Betances gets another chance to show he can perform as a closer. His experience from last season should help. The Yankees pen is deep, as the group owns a 2.50 ERA and struck out 123 batters in 104 1/3 innings. Chapman accounted for 21 of those K in 12 2/3 innings, while Betances has 22 K in 11 2/3 innings.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2qGvssM