Texas Rangers Manager Addresses Aroldis Chapman Replacing Closer Will Smith

Will Smith blew a save Monday against the Houston Astros after Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect eighth inning.

© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy pledged his support of closer Will Smith, but with Aroldis Chapman sharing the same bullpen, questions are going to arise.

Especially after Monday’s 12-11 loss to the Houston Astros.

Smith came on to close out a wild contest, with the Rangers on the verge of their biggest comeback of the season – and in years – against their instate rivals. Texas had an 11-10 lead when Bochy handed the ball to his left-handed closer.

Smith was hit hard, repeatedly, as the Astros staged a rally of their own. Kyle Tucker led off the ninth with a single and, one out later, Jose Abreu and Chas McCormick ripped back-to-back doubles as Houston regained the lead.

“You watched it, it didn’t go my way,” Smith said. “You watch the team battle back the whole game, down [10-2]. So you feel like s--- coughing that one up.

“It just wasn’t my day.”

It's Smith's first blown save after 10 consecutive conversions and just his second this season. Streaks come to an end, so falling short against the defending champions isn't the end of the world.

But it’s also reasonable to ask about Chapman, one of the most feared closers in the game with more than 300 career saves. He’s pitched two scoreless innings for Texas since arriving via trade from the Kansas City Royals.

Bochy didn’t want to entertain the idea of the new lefty flamethrower replacing Smith at the end of games.

“No, I’m not going to go there now because Smitty, who’s been doing such a great job, that’s not what we’re even thinking about right now,” Bochy said. “That eighth inning was big, too. Those are huge innings – seventh, eighth, and ninth. We need to put zeroes up there, so I’ll leave it at that.”

Chapman put up a zero in the eighth on Monday, notching a strikeout in a brisk outing of 13 pitches. He also held the Astros scoreless with two punchouts during a 16-pitch stint in Sunday’s 5-3 setback.

In both outings, Chapman lit up the radar gun. He peaked at 101 mph Sunday with nine pitches of at least 99 mph. On Sunday, he reached at least 98 mph eight times.

Smith doesn’t own that kind of velocity. He mostly relies on off-speed stuff, such as a slider and curve. The veteran’s fastball tops out in the mid-90s.

Prior to Chapman’s first game in a Texas uniform, Bochy said he planned to use his new reliever in a set-up role similar to what Kansas City was doing. So far, Bochy has done that.

Maybe he’s not thinking of a change right now. But that won’t stop others from thinking about it.

The American League West-leading Rangers (50-35) open up a six-game road trip ahead of the All-Star break with a Fourth of July visit to the Boston Red Sox. Texas sends Dane Dunning (7-1, 2.69) to the hill for the series opener, with a 12:35 p.m. CT first pitch.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
2. No Pride in Texas, Rangers Lone Team Without Pride Night
3. Watch: Eva Longoria Wins Over Texas Rangers Fans With First Pitch
4. Texas Rangers in Play to Sing Shohei Ohtani
5. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
6. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
7. MLB, Texas Rangers Win Bally Sports Broadcast Suit
8. AL West is ‘Ours,’ Not Astros Says Texas Rangers First Baseman
9. Former Texas Rangers Favorite Derek Holland Comeback Ends
10. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games

---

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.