AL East: Hendriks return could shake up BOS bullpen

Boston Red Sox

After being named Boston’s closer to open the 2025 season, Aroldis Chapman has been off to a solid start, recording three of the team’s four saves with strong results (1.29 ERA) and skills (24.1 K-BB%). Chapman’s status as the top left-handed reliever in leverage, though, has led to some scenarios where he has pitched in high-leverage, non-save scenarios, opening some save opportunities elsewhere.

Justin Slaten was the beneficiary of the first of these opportunities, recording the team’s only non-Chapman save on March 27. Slaten, Chapman, and Garrett Whitlock have been a key part of Boston’s late-inning mix. Although Slaten is currently carrying a 6.00 ERA, largely due to an outing against Baltimore on March 31 in...

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