Sudden Aroldis Chapman injury issue adds uncertain wrinkle to Yankees-Red Sox showdown

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox seem destined for another October clash. You can smell the narrative building now. The Red Sox will be painted as the underdogs due to their horrid start to the season. Fine. Whatever makes them feel better.

For the Yankees, this could be a tipping point, a chance to regain that sense of dominance over their hated rival. To that end, New York might have just gotten a piece of news that could further tip the scales in its favor, and it has to do old "friend" Aroldis Chapman.

After dropping the first two games of their series against the Texas Rangers, Boston mounted a late-inning comeback following a Trevor Story three-run homer in the eighth inning against Texas's all-world closer Jacob Latz. Coming out to secure the victory in the ninth wasn't Chapman, though; instead, it was another former Yankee, Garrett Whitlock. After the game, it was revealed that Chapman was "unavailable" because he's dealing with a sore lat.

Red Sox interim manager said that it's an issue that Chapman has been dealing with for a few days, and that the team will be conservative with his usage for the time being. The 38-year-old, who recently learned the importance of throwing strikes, has seen his command get spotty over his last two outings, issuing three walks in the process. Perhaps the injury is to blame?

Red Sox injury issues, including Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras, and others, could give Yankees the upper hand

At this point, it's unclear whether or not Chapman will need to head to the IL, but either way him being less than 100% bodes well for the Yankees. That will be especially true if he remains active and reverts to his wild ways in the upcoming playoff matchup.

Chapman isn't the only Boston player banged up, either. Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch on the hand during the Red Sox's win over the Rangers. X-rays were initially negative, but the former St. Louis Cardinal said he's suffered hand fractures before and that this felt the same way. He'll be sent for imaging and further tests to determine the true extent.

Contreras has been hit a total of 24 times this season, the third-most in baseball. He seems frustrated, too, saying that it will keep happening "if nobody does anything about it." Sounds like he's frustrated that Boston pitchers haven't come to his defense, threatening to cause an issue for the Red Sox even if his hand injury proves to be nothing serious.

That's not the end of the problems for the Red Sox. Roman Anthony, who missed nearly four months due to a torn finger ligament, is slumping hard. After an initial burst in his first two games back after being activated on August 30, Anthony has slashed just .200/.268/.338 thus far in September.

The biggest news of all, though, is Chapman. If he avoids the IL but is diminished, it could give the Yankees a key advantage in the most crucial moments of the expected matchup. The Sox's other primary bullpen lefty, Erik Miller, is also suffering from mechanical issues at a particularly brutal time. Capitalizing on that edge will be a must, and if the Red Sox fall to New York due to a Chapman postseason meltdown, the moment will be that much sweeter.

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