Chapman (6-5) blew a save and was tagged with Thursday's loss to Seattle. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk without retiring a batter.
Chapman, who worked the eighth inning of a close game Wednesday, was given the closing opportunity Thursday but failed to secure a win that would have clinched Texas' first postseason berth since 2016. He was removed after back-to-back singles and a walk (eight pitches, three strikes). Jonathan Hernandez inherited Chapman's runners and nearly got out of jam, but he allowed a two-run, walk-off double to J.P. Crawford. Neither single off Chapman was hard hit, but the performance adds to a stretch of shaky relief from the southpaw. Over his last 14 outings going back to Aug. 21, Chapman is 1-3 with two blown saves, a 6.23 ERA and 12 walks over 13 innings.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Works eighth inning
Rotowire
Chapman struck one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Angels.
It was a 2-0 game in the eighth inning when manager Bruce Bochy had Chapman enter the game. Bochy had Jose Leclerc in mind for the save, which never materialized after the Rangers scored three times in the top of the ninth. Chapman is having a shaky September and appears to be sharing the closer duty with Leclerc.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Notches save Saturday
Rotowire
Chapman picked up a save against the Mariners on Saturday, walking one batter and allowing no runs over two-thirds of an inning.
Chapman threw just five of his 10 pitches for strikes and walked the first batter he faced to put the tying run on base after entering with one out and one on in the ninth. However, the fireballer was able to retire Seattle's final two batters to close out the contest and record his sixth save. Chapman has been shaky in September with a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB over seven innings, but he's converted both of his save chances while emerging as Texas' primary ninth-option ahead of Will Smith.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Works multiple innings
Rotowire
Chapman (6-4) struck out three over 1.2 innings to earn Tuesday's win over the Red Sox.
Texas manager Bruce Bochy, who told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday afternoon that he's trying to avoid using Chapman for more than one inning, did just that. Chapman entered the seventh inning with Boston rallying and ended the threat. The reliever managed a perfect eighth before Jose Leclerc picked up the save. The bullpen has blown leads late in two recent games, as Bochy avoided bringing Chapman in before the ninth inning. However, the manager altered course Tuesday, saying "we've got find a way to win ballgames." Bochy perhaps took that approach because the Rangers' bullpen has an AL-worst 6.38 ERA since Aug. 16.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Unused in close game
Rotowire
Chapman was not used in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Guardians.
Texas held a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth inning, and manager Bruce Bochy let setup reliever Will Smith, who finished out the seventh, open the frame. He was pulled with one out after giving up a double and a walk. At that point, instead of using Chapman in a high-leverage spot for a save opportunity, Bochy brought in Jose Leclerc, who gave up two hits that allowed the inherited runners to score. Chapman was well-rested, last having pitched Tuesday, and could have been used for a five-out save. However, he's been erratic of late, allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits (including two home runs) and seven walks over the last 5.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Notches fifth save
Rotowire
Chapman earned a save against the Athletics on Saturday, walking two batters and striking out one in a scoreless inning.
With the Rangers having lost seven of eight games and needing a win as they battle for a playoff spot, manager Bruce Bochy deployed both of his co-closers late in a close contest. Will Smith got the final out of the seventh and followed with a scoreless eighth, while Chapman was called upon to close things out in the ninth. The latter made things stressful for Texas fans with a pair of walks but was able to navigate past those to pick up the save. Though they've come 10 days apart, Chapman has picked up the past two saves for the Rangers. However, he hasn't exactly been sharp of late, giving up seven runs (five earned) and posting an 11:9 K:BB over his past 7.2 frames.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Takes loss Saturday
Rotowire
Chapman (5-4) was tagged with Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Twins. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Chapman got the final two outs in the top of the ninth inning but surrendered three runs without retiring a batter in the extra frame. It was the second straight outing that resulted in a loss for Chapman, who also has two blown saves over his last six appearances. He had walked just four batters over his first 16 innings after being acquired by the Rangers, but control issues are now haunting Chapman. He's walked seven, hit a batter and thrown two wild pitches during the recent six-outing stretch, producing a 7.94 ERA and 2.12 WHIP.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Notches fourth save
Rotowire
Chapman gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.
Will Smith's recent struggles -- he's blown his last two save chances and hasn't successfully converted one since Aug. 11 -- have forced manager Bruce Bochy to look elsewhere at the end of games, with Jose Leclerc getting the save Monday before Chapman got his turn Tuesday. The veteran lefty watched rookie Mark Vientos get just enough of a 100.8-mph fastball to send it out to the opposite field, but otherwise Chapman got the job done on an efficient nine pitches (eight strikes). Smith tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up a hold and hasn't been removed completely from the high-leverage mix, but the Rangers could be headed toward a closing committee unless someone seizes the job.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
You might think Chapman's full-season numbers are impressive, but in 19 appearances since joining the Rangers in early July, he has a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16.7 K/9, looking every bit like the ace reliever we remember from 2010 through 2020. It would seem, then, that a changing of the guard is long overdue, and seeing as Will Smith has allowed 10 earned runs in his past nine appearances, it may finally be happening. Chapman has worked the ninth inning three times since Smith last did. Granted, he's 0 for 2 in save chances during that time, but he coughed up just one run on each occasion. They weren't the sort of meltdowns that had become all too common for Smith, so the expectation is that manager Bruce Bochy will stick with Chapman for now. When prioritizing save targets off the waiver wire, he ranks behind only Andres Munoz and Yennier Cano.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Blows save Monday
Rotowire
Chapman blew a save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over two innings.
With Texas ahead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, it was Chapman who got the call from the bullpen to close things out. He couldn't do so, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Ketel Marte with one out. Chapman did settle down from there to finish that frame and the 10th without allowing any more runs, and he looked to be in line for the win when Texas scored twice in the top of the 11th. However, Will Smith -- who has been working as the Rangers' primary closer of late -- coughed up three two-out runs to blow a save opportunity of his own. Smith has blown two of five save chances over his past seven outings while posting a 15.19 ERA and 2.25 WHIP, so Chapman could be in line for more ninth-inning opportunities, though there hasn't yet been any word of a changing of the guard between the duo.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Settles into setup role
Rotowire
Chapman walked one and struck out three over a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold in Monday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Chapman recorded a fourth straight hold, all which have come with him pitching the eighth inning. Texas manager Bruce Bochy has settled on a late-game pattern, where Josh Sborz works the seventh, Chapman the eighth, and Will Smith closes in the ninth. That's been the formula for four victories during the Rangers' seven-game winning streak. Chapman's been brilliant since being acquired from Kansas City in late June, posting a 23:3 K:BB over 12 innings. The lone blemish was a blown save July 24 against division rival Houston.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Holds lead
Rotowire
Chapman allowed one hit and struck out three over one inning in to earn a hold in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the White Sox.
Chapman made his first appearance in eight days, showing no rust in a 15-pitch outing (11 strikes). The left-hander blew up in his previous appearance, giving up three runs and walking two in a loss to the Astros, but that's been the lone blemish since joining the Rangers in late June. Chapman has allowed five hits and two walks while striking out 17 over nine innings in a Texas uniform.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Gives up lead
Rotowire
Chapman allowed three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two over one inning in Monday's 10-9 loss to the Astros.
Chapman warmed up when the game was tied in the sixth inning in preparation to face the heart of Houston's order -- Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Jose Abreu -- in the seventh. After the Rangers plated three in the top half of the frame, Chapman gave it all back with two walks -- his first free passes since joining the Rangers -- and a Chas McCormick home run. This was the first adverse outing for Chapman in a Texas uniform. The left-hander sparkled over his first seven appearances, giving up three hits without a walk while striking out 12 over seven innings.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Logs win Monday
Rotowire
Chapman (5-2) picked up the win over Tampa Bay on Monday. He struck out the side in the ninth inning.
Chapman was the pitcher of record when the Rangers walked off the Rays in the bottom of the inning. It was his first victory in a Texas uniform, and the left-hander remained unblemished for his new club. Chapman, who was recently named a co-closer with Will Smith, has not allowed a run or a walk while striking out 10 over six appearances since coming over from Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Earns first save with new team
Rotowire
Chapman allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless ninth inning to record a save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Guardians.
Chapman threw 10 of 12 pitches for a strike to record his first save since joining the Rangers at the end of June. Texas manager Bruce Bochy announced earlier in the day that Chapman will share the closer role with Will Smith, and the manager wasted no time giving the recent bullpen addition his first opportunity. Smith was used as the bridge, getting five outs before Chapman took over. Bochy said whichever reliever gets the call to close out games will depend on the set of hitters due up. Both are lefties, so it will not be solely based on lefty-righty matchups.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Will share closer duties with Smith
Rotowire
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Chapman and Will Smith will share closer duties based on which hitters are due up, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
The comments came after Chapman picked up his first save since joining the Rangers on Saturday versus the Guardians, striking out two while allowing one hit in a scoreless frame. Smith tossed 1.2 scoreless innings before Chapman in the game. The latter is having a terrific season and hasn't done anything recent to lose his job, but Chapman has had an even better year and is arguably a better choice at closer for the American League West leaders. For now, the two left-handers will share the gig.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Throws clean inning in loss
Rotowire
Chapman struck out one over a scoreless and hitless eighth inning in Monday's 12-11 loss to Houston.
Chapman entered a tie game and pitched a second scoreless inning since joining the Rangers. After he set the side down in order in the top of the frame, the offense produced a run to take the lead in the bottom half of the eighth. That set up a save situation for closer Will Smith, but he allowed three hits and blew his second save of the season. Coming on the heels of Chapman's perfect inning, Smith picked an inopportune time to blow his second save of the season. However, manager Bruce Bochy quashed any notion of a change in the closer role, telling Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News, "that's not what we're even thinking about right now." Despite the manager's comments, Chapman's history in a closing role could lead him to steal save chances from Smith.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Makes team debut
Rotowire
Chapman allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless seventh inning in Sunday's 5-3 loss to Houston.
Chapman was acquired by Texas last week and made his debut for the new club. He entered a tied game, and it stayed that way after he left. There may be save opportunities down the road for Chapman, who could serve as a partner to Will Smith as the team's closer.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Aroldis Chapman: Traded to Texas
Rotowire
Chapman was traded to the Rangers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans and minor-league outfielder Roni Cabrera on Friday.
Chapman will head to Texas after he posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 53 strikeouts, eight holds and two saves over 29.1 innings in 31 outings with the Royals this season. He'll join a bullpen with an established closer in left-hander Will Smith and will likely operate in a set-up role with the Rangers. Now that he's seemingly rounded back into form in 2023, Chapman will serve as a significant piece for a Texas team that's in first place in the AL West.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Aroldis Chapman: Snags extra-inning win
Rotowire
Chapman (4-2) gave up an unearned run on a hit and a walk and struck out two over one inning Thursday, earning the extra-inning win over the Guardians.
Jose Ramirez made a straight steal of home in the 10th inning after beginning as the initial runner on second base and moving to third on a groundout. Chapman was in line for the loss until the Royals walked it off with a two-run double from Freddy Fermin. The lefty reliever has been reliable with a 20:6 K:BB and just two runs allowed (one earned) over nine innings in June. He's picked up three of his four wins this month, and he has a 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB over 29.1 innings overall.
