Entering the final month of the 2017 season, very few had confidence New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman.
In seven appearances from Aug. 11-25, New York’s $86 million investment went 0-2 with a blown save thanks to an ERA of 10.29 (8 ER in 7 IP) and an opponent’s slash line of .269/.412/.615. Chapman was then removed from his closer role and demoted into a low-leverage situation role.
Then, as the calendar shifted from August to September, Chapman began to earn the trust back from manager Joe Girardi. It had to take more than a few shutout innings, however, and the Cuban missile’s biggest test — to see if he could return to his dominant form — was picking up teammate Dellin Betances on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins in an AL Wild Card preview.