Chapman goes on DL with inflamed rotator cuff

NEW YORK -- Aroldis Chapman was still lighting up the radar gun with his trademark triple-digit velocity, but the awkward gestures and grimaces suggested that something wasn't quite right with the Yankees' closer, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.
After seeking extra treatment after Friday's 5-1 loss to the Astros, Chapman was sent for an MRI that revealed left rotator cuff tendinitis. The left-hander revealed that he has been experiencing discomfort as far back as an April 26 outing at Fenway Park.
"I was trying to work through it," Chapman said through an interpreter. "I was getting treatment. I believed it was going to go away with the treatment that I was getting."
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Chapman will be shut down for two weeks with no throwing, at which time the club will re-assess his condition.
"You're probably looking at a minimum of a month if everything goes right," Cashman said. "I can only go by he was throwing 100 [mph], but he just wasn't as effective. For whatever reason, he didn't feel it was worthy enough to say anything in-game that it was bothering him."
Right-hander Chad Green was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's doubleheader against the Astros. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that his plan is to use Dellin Betances as the closer in Chapman's absence.
Betances converted 12 saves in 17 chances last year and he was involved in a spring arbitration battle in which club president Randy Levine said that Betances "is not a closer, at least based on statistics." Now Betances will get another chance to prove otherwise.
"For me, I've just got to do my job," Betances said. "I can't show anybody anything because then that's just putting extra pressure on myself. Just got to go out there, do my job, make pitches and then everything will take care of itself."
Chapman has recorded seven saves with a 3.55 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 14 appearances this season. Though he was critical of Cubs manager Joe Maddon for the way he was utilized in last year's postseason, Chapman said that he could not draw a definitive link between that workload and the injury.

"It's really hard to say that was the cause, because not too long ago I felt great," Chapman said. "I was pitching really good. It's really hard to say."
"He looked good this spring. He had no issues," Cashman added. "Nothing's been a concern until postgame Friday."
Chapman was removed mid-inning in his last two outings, surrendering three hits and an earned run on Friday against the Astros and allowing three earned runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs on May 7.

"You definitely lose location and sharpness," Chapman said. "Also, you lose a little bit of strength. I think I've been around 100 mph, but you lose the consistency on the speed, I think."
Chapman experienced a similar physical issue with the Reds in 2011, and he was on the disabled list from May 16-June 24 of that season. He was also listed as day to day in September '12 with what Cincinnati called left shoulder fatigue.
"I think it was something similar to what I have now," Chapman said. "I'm not worried about it. I believe that with the treatment I'm going to get in the coming weeks, I'm going to be fine."