Here’s Why Red Sox Pulled Aroldis Chapman Sunday

Boston’s bullpen had to pivot fast after a sudden scare on Sunday afternoon.

Aroldis Chapman was pulled in the eighth inning of the Boston Red Sox’s win over the Los Angeles Dodgers with what manager Alex Cora later described as back tightness. The injury is not considered serious, but it arrived without warning and left the Fenway crowd holding its breath.

Chapman entered with a one-run lead and immediately walked Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts. He got Shohei Ohtani to fly out for the first out, but as he moved toward the third-base line, he began to limp. Cora and a team trainer came out moments later and removed him from the game.

“Aroldis Chapman didn’t look like his dominant self,” wrote Chris Cotillo of MassLive, and the radar gun told the same story. Chapman averaged just 94.6 mph on his four-seamer — nearly four miles per hour below his season average — and did not top 95.8.

That drop in velocity, combined with the visible discomfort, raised fears about a possible arm issue. But Cora said after the game that Chapman is considered day-to-day and is not expected to go on the injured list.

Jordan Hicks took over with one out and two on and shut the door. The right-hander logged the final 1 ⅔ innings, walking one and striking out one to earn his second save of the season.

Chapman, 37, has been one of Boston’s most effective relievers this year, posting a 1.31 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 41 ⅓ innings.

The injury may not be a major concern, but Chapman’s value in high-leverage spots makes even a minor setback worth monitoring. The Red Sox avoided the worst-case scenario but will be watching closely to make sure this comeback campaign stays intact.