ARLINGTON — The Red Sox finished off a 4-3 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday without their usual ninth-inning man, as Aroldis Chapman was held out by left lat tightness and listed as day to day.
Key takeaways
- Chapman has felt tightness in his lat area for the past several days, prompting Boston to take a cautious approach.
- Garrett Whitlock handled the final three outs, working around a walk and ending the game with a 6-4-3 double play.
- Chapman has posted a 1.95 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and .190 opponents’ batting average across 51 appearances.
- His 34 saves are tied for third in the American League and tied for fifth across Major League Baseball.
- Boston currently has eight pitchers on the injured list, putting continued pressure on the club’s depth.
Whitlock gets the call in the ninth
Interim manager Chad Tracy said the club did not want to push Chapman before the tightness had fully cleared. The closer has been receiving treatment and is known inside the clubhouse for his preparation, but Boston will keep checking his condition each day.
“It is improving, but we want to be certain it is fully there,” Tracy said after the game. “That was the reason he was not available tonight.”
With Chapman unavailable, Whitlock took the ball for the ninth and provided a clean enough finish to preserve the one-run victory. He retired the first hitter on a grounder to first base, issued a walk, then got the Rangers to roll into the inning-ending double play.
Tracy said Whitlock’s versatility makes him a trusted option when the bullpen has to adjust on the fly. “He is dependable, and he has handled that role before,” the manager said. “If Chappie is down, we have confidence using him in any situation.”
A thin pitching staff keeps finding answers
Chapman’s temporary absence arrived during another demanding stretch for a Boston pitching group already carrying eight arms on the injured list. The club has needed contributions from younger players throughout the season, and Chapman said their response has helped sustain the group.
“Because of all the injuries, they have had chances to come in and they have done an excellent job,” Chapman said Wednesday. He noted that some players have since returned, but added that younger teammates have continued to make the most of limited opportunities.
“We keep playing until the last out because you never know what can happen,” Chapman said. “Seeing those guys step up keeps me positive.”
Boston will be especially careful with a reliever whose season has been one of the bullpen’s steadiest. Chapman’s 34 saves place him among the league leaders, while his 1,399 career strikeouts are the most ever recorded by a Major League reliever.
