Chapman threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Saturday to record his 14th save of the season in a 9-4 win over the Yankees. He struck out one.
Jalen Beeks loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, forcing the Pirates to turn to their closer despite a big lead. Chapman needed only nine pitches (five strikes) to convert his eighth straight save chance, striking out Aaron Judge along the way with a 100.6 mph two-seamer. Even at 37 years old, Chapman can still pump heat over the plate, and his success during his late-season closing stint should re-assure prospective employers this winter as he heads back into free agency.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Locks down save
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Chapman struck out two batters in a perfect inning to earn a save against the Yankees on Friday.
Chapman needed only eight pitches to quickly plow through the Yankees' 7-8-9 hitters and finish off the 4-2 win. It was his 13th save of the season and eight have come in September. He's converted seven consecutive save chances while posting a 2.57 ERA over his last seven appearances. Chapman owns a 3.84 ERA and a 97:39 K:BB through 61 innings this year.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Earns 12th save
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Chapman earned the save against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Chapman was called upon to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth and secured his 12th save when Willy Adames was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double. Since allowing four earned runs in a blown save Sept. 7, Chapman has locked down six consecutive chances with eight strikeouts. On the season, the southpaw owns a 3.90 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 95:39 K:BB across 60 innings.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Notches 11th save
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Chapman struck out two in a flawless ninth inning to pick up his 11th save of the season Sunday against the Reds.
Called upon with a two-run lead in the ninth, Chapman quickly dispatched the heart of the Reds order to earn his 11th save of the season. Chapman has been outstanding since taking over the closer role from David Bednar in late August, collecting a save in each of his last five appearances. The veteran enters the last week of the season with a 3.97 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 94:39 K:BB with 22 holds while converting 11 of 16 saves.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Records 10th save
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Chapman earned a save against the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.
Chapman entered in the bottom of the ninth inning with a one-run lead and gave up a leadoff single to Brendan Donovan. However, Donovan didn't advance any further, as Chapman retired the next three batters on just four pitches. Chapman has converted each of his past four save chances, though this was just the second time in that span that he hasn't allowed a run.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Nabs another save
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Chapman picked up the save Sunday against Kansas City, striking out one during a perfect ninth inning.
Chapman has emerged as the Pirates' closer, and while he's gone five for six in save chances since Aug. 31, the 36-year-old has yielded six runs across 6.1 innings. Overall, Chapman has a 4.11 ERA with nine saves and a 5-5 record.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Hangs on for eighth save
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Chapman earned the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Marlins despite allowing a run on three hits in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Chapman got into some trouble in the ninth, allowing the Marlins to cut the lead to 6-4 with three singles. However, he'd manage to escape with the lead still intact, earning his eighth save this season. Chapman's converted back-to-back save chance though he's given up at least one run in three straight appearances, allowing six runs over 2.2 innings in that span. The left-hander sports a 4.18 ERA on the season with a 1.45 WHIP and 91:39 K:BB across 56 innings.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Picks up seventh save
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Chapman got the save Monday against the Marlins. He allowed one run on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts in one inning.
Chapman worked in and out of trouble in the ninth as he had the tying and go-ahead run on base before escaping the jam. The 36-year-old veteran was coming off one of his worst outings of the season when he gave up a season-high four runs Saturday. Chapman has now picked up three saves in his last five appearances since replacing David Bednar as the team's primary closer.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Blows save Saturday
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Chapman (5-5) took the loss and blew the save against the Nationals in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning.
Chapman entered in the ninth frame after Pittsburgh scored twice to take a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. The veteran fireballer retired two of the first three batters he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles followed by back-to-back doubles as Washington plated four runs. Before Saturday, Chapman had converted both of his save opportunities since David Bednar was moved out of the closer role, but Saturday's blow-up may allow Dennis Santana -- who picked up a save Monday and has fired 12 straight scoreless outings -- to get additional ninth-inning looks.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Collects sixth save
Rotowire
Chapman picked up the save Thursday, striking out one over 0.2 innings against the Nationals.
Chapman entered a five-run game in the ninth with the tying run on deck and needed just six pitches to close things out without allowing any further damage. It was the second save in as many opportunities for Chapman since replacing a struggling David Bednar in the closer role for the Pirates. Outside of a three-run blowup last week against the Cubs, Chapman has been unscored upon over his last 13 appearances, accumulating 21 strikeouts with a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP one win, two saves and seven holds over 13 innings.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Notches save Saturday
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Chapman struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his fifth save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Guardians.
The veteran lefty hit triple digits on the radar gun with six of his 16 pitches, topping out at 101.8 mph, as he carved up the heart of Cleveland's order. Chapman has taken over the closer role for the Pirates due to David Bednar's struggles, and he may not give it back -- over 17 innings since the All-Star break, he's delivered a 2.12 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB. Saturday's save was Chapman's first since July 11, but it doesn't figure to be his last of the season.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Picks up fifth win
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Chapman (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win Sunday against the Reds.
Chapman entered the game with the Pirates down a run and continued his dominant stretch. Since the All-Star break, he has allowed only one earned run across 15 innings while maintaining a 25:3 K:BB. David Bednar continues to serve as Pittsburgh's closer but has been very shaky, so Chapman may see a handful of save opportunities before the season concludes.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Secures win Sunday
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Chapman (3-4) picked up the win Sunday against the Diamondbacks after pitching a scoreless ninth.
Chapman was called upon to pitch the ninth with the game tied at two after manager Derek Shelton opted to go with David Bednar in the eighth. The left-hander retired the side on just six pitches and was credited with the win after the Pirates went on to win 6-5 in 10 innings. After a rocky start to the month, Chapman has allowed just one run over his last six appearances, during which he's racked up two wins, two holds and a save while posting a 6:2 K:BB. The 36-year-old is still overpowering hitters in his 15th MLB season, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 60:34 K:BB in 38.2 innings.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Perfect for fourth save
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Chapman picked up the save Thursday against Milwaukee, striking out one batter during a perfect ninth inning.
Chapman inherited a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning and required only nine pitches to retire Christian Yelich, Willy Adames and Sal Frelick in order. Chapman has consistently seen ninth-inning work since David Bednar (oblique) got injured June 22, but Chapman's allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and six walks across 7.2 innings with three saves in four opportunities during that stretch.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Blows save, takes loss
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Chapman (1-4) blew a save and was tagged with Sunday's loss to the Mets. He allowed two runs on two hits, three walks and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.
Chapman entered with a one-run lead in the ninth but loaded the bases and gave up a go-ahead two-run single to Francisco Lindor. Chapman was erratic with his control as he matched his season high with three walks and threw 40 pitches, his third-most in an outing in his career. The veteran has been the Pirates' closer since David Bednar went down with an oblique injury, but this is now three straight outings in which he has given up at least one run.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Earns third save
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Chapman gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning but still managed to pick up his third save Sunday against Atlanta.
Chapman came in with a three-run lead in the ninth and worked in and out of trouble to grab his second save in his last four appearances. The veteran has taken over the Pirates' ninth-inning role since losing closer David Bednar to an oblique injury June 19th. There is still no timetable for Bednar's return, so Chapman is likely looking at a few more save opportunities in the meantime.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Clean ninth inning
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Chapman struck out two without allowing a baserunner across a scoreless ninth inning against the Reds on Wednesday.
Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning with a five-run lead, marking his first appearance since Saturday. He struggled to begin the season but has pitched well for significant stretches, most recently allowing two earned runs across 8.2 innings in June while posting a 13:4 K:BB. Chapman should see most of Pittsburgh's save chances while David Bednar (oblique) is sidelined.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Collects second save
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Chapman gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Rays. He struck out one.
David Bednar is dealing with some tightness in his side and was unavailable, leaving ninth-inning duties to his 36-year-old set-up man. Chapman walked the first batter he faced before surrendering an RBI double to Yandy Diaz, but the southpaw got Isaac Paredes to ground out to end the threat. Chapman has been scored upon only twice in his last 10 appearances, posting a 1.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through 9.2 innings over that stretch. Bednar's injury isn't considered serious, but Chapman should handle closing duties until he's ready to return.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Finding form
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Chapman hit one batter and struck out one across a scoreless seventh inning to record a hold Monday against the Reds.
Chapman tallied his team-leading 13th hold. His numbers remain inflated after a shaky start to the season, but he's managed to turn in eight scoreless efforts in his last nine appearances. Chapman has still walked six batters across 8.2 innings in that span, but he has otherwise been effective.
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Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Returns to mound
Rotowire
Chapman (finger) struck out two and did not allow a baserunner in a scoreless inning to earn a hold Thursday against the Cubs.
Chapman was removed from Sunday's appearance with a cracked fingernail, but the issue was never expected to require a long-term absence. After beginning the season as the Pirates' primary setup man, Chapman appeared in the seventh inning Thursday while Colin Holderman followed him in the eighth frame.
