NEW YORK -- Toward the end of last week, there was some trepidation about New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. His velocity dipped all the way to 94 on one fastball and he wobbled through the ninth inning on Saturday in a downpour.
On Tuesday, some of the trepidation was erased as Chapman closed out a pitching clinic by J.A. Happ and opened a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a stress-free 4-1 Yankees victory.
Beating the Rays at home of late is not a new development for the Yankees, who can take their 13th straight home series from their American League East foes Wednesday night.