Chapman (leg) struck out three batters and walked one in a scoreless inning for Double-A Somerset on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman made his first rehab appearance since landing on the injured list with a leg infection at the end of August. The veteran reliever entered in the fourth inning and struck out the side while issuing one walk, and he threw 10 of 16 pitches for strikes. Chapman could return to the Yankees by the end of this week, but he's unlikely to usurp Clay Holmes for the closer role.

Chapman (leg) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Sunday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman threw a bullpen session Friday and will return to game action in the minors to close out the weekend. The southpaw expects to need at least one more rehab appearance prior to rejoining the Yankees, so it's possible that he'll remain on the injured list until late next week.

Chapman is set to throw a bullpen session Friday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman has been out of action since Aug. 27 when his leg became infected after getting a tattoo. He's yet to face any major setbacks in his rehab process and could very well come off the injured list within a few days.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Chapman (leg) is due to resume throwing off a mound this week, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 after he developed an infection in his leg, which stemmed from a tattoo he added to his body a few days prior. The left-handed fireballer was cleared to resume throwing over the weekend and appears to have thus far experienced no setbacks, so he'll take another step forward within a couple days by getting back on the mound. Chapman looks like he has a chance at returning from the IL in the minimum amount of time, but he may have to settle for a setup role out of the bullpen with Clay Holmes having recently returned from the IL to possibly take over as the Yankees' primary closing option.

Chapman (leg) threw Friday for the first time since landing on the injured list, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman landed on the injured Saturday due to a leg infection, an issue which developed after he got a new tattoo. He expects to advance to a bullpen session within a day or two. He could potentially add to his nine saves once healthy, but that would require a return to his previous form in addition to a return to full health. It might also require a collapse from Clay Holmes, who returned from a back injury Monday.

Chapman was placed on the injured list Saturday with an infection in his leg, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

The issue reportedly stemmed from a tattoo Chapman received. Chapman hasn't pitched in over a week and allowed three runs while walking four batters in his last two appearances, though it's unclear exactly when the problem started bothering him. The back of the Yankees' bullpen is quite beat up at the moment, with Clay Holmes (back) and Scott Effross (shoulder) also out, though Holmes should return Monday and now seemingly has a clearer path to reclaiming closer duties. Lou Trivino or Jonathan Loaisiga could be candidates to record a save over the weekend.

Chapman allowed a run on one hit and two walks over one-third of an inning against Toronto on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Chapman entered in the ninth inning with New York down by three runs, so his struggles didn't do much to impact the outcome of the game. Nonetheless, it's discouraging that the veteran fireballer was unable to find the strike zone -- he threw just five of 14 pitches over the plate and walked the final two batters he faced to load the bases. Chapman was presumed to be in line to regain his closing role when Clay Holmes (back) moved to the injured list Aug. 16, but since that time Chapman has walked four batters and given up three runs over one inning across two appearances. He hasn't been used in a save situation, but it wouldn't be surprising if Scott Effross is called upon the next time a closer is needed given Chapman's ugly past two outings.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Chapman and Scott Effross will serve as the team's primary closing options while Clay Holmes (back) is on the 15-day injured list, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though the left-handed Chapman has the overwhelming edge over right-handed Effross in terms of closing experience, Boone suggested that a two-pronged approach to the late-inning situations may be the Yankees' best option in the short term. Even so, Chapman still looks like the preferred waiver-wire pickup of the two relievers, especially now that he's seemingly regained top form after a few rocky outings upon his return from an Achilles injury in early July. Though he hasn't picked up any save chances since being activated, Chapman enters Wednesday's game against the Rays having turned in nine straight scoreless appearances while striking out 10 and putting only five runners on base across 9.1 innings.

Chapman appears to be the top candidate to step in as the Yankees' primary closer after manager Aaron Boone suggested following Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Rays that Clay Holmes (back) will likely go on the injured list, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Chapman hasn't received any save opportunities since returning July 1 from an IL stint of his own due to Achilles tendinitis, he's started to resemble the dominant end gamer he's been throughout most of his career, especially in his more recent appearances. Dating back to July 26, Chapman has turned in nine straight scoreless outings while delivering an 0.43 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB in 9.1 innings over that stretch. Despite not having held the closer's role since landing on the IL in late May, Chapman is likely still rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues, but Holmes' impending absence means that the 34-year-old lefty should be scooped up immediately if he happens to be sitting on the waiver wire anywhere.

Chapman picked up his first hold, striking out two batters in a perfect inning against the Red Sox on Friday, while Clay Holmes blew his third straight save opportunity in the contest. Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested after the loss that Holmes could see fewer ninth-inning opportunities, per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

There had already been hints that Chapman could begin to see closing opportunities again -- he was slated to finish last Friday's game against the Cardinals before Holmes gave up the lead in the eighth inning -- and the continued struggles of the latter make that likelihood stronger. Boone implied that Holmes may have lost his grasp on the ninth-inning role following this Friday's loss, stating, "We'll see. I'm trying to get him in the best positions to be successful. Some nights it'll be the ninth, some nights it'll be having the full go with the pen. We'll keep working with him. Got to get him right and consistent." If Holmes is pulled from the role, Chapman is the most likely candidate to take over closing duties given his extensive history of success (he has 315 career saves) and his recent return to form (he's tossed eight consecutive scoreless innings, posting an 8:1 K:BB and allowing three hits over that stretch).