Maddon gives Chapman 2 days off after blown save

Even the hardest throwing pitcher in baseball needs some time off.

After blowing his second save as a member of the Chicago Cubs, and pitching in his fourth game in as many nights, Aroldis Chapman is getting two days off from manager Joe Maddon, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

"The manager and I are just getting to know each other, but we do have very good communication and we will figure things out in terms of innings workload, and need for rest and so on,” Chapman said. "I'm going to rest Saturday and Sunday, and then Monday I know I'll be back at 100 percent."

The southpaw admitted that he was feeling fatigued in Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the 11th inning. When the game was tied in the ninth, 10th, and 11th innings, Chapman prepared before each one.

Though he's used to it, he said he was a little tired and he knew he wasn't in top form. Maddon, though, takes no issue with giving Chapman some extra rest, considering what he's done this season.

"Aroldis, I’m just getting to know him," Maddon said. "On a daily basis I’ve asked him how he feels. If he needs a day, he gets the day, if he doesn’t need the day, he pitches. Looking at his overall workload this year, he’s in pretty good shape."

Chapman has a sparkling 1.91 ERA this season in 42 1/3 innings pitched. New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia leads all major league closers with 57 innings.

Although he's struggling, the lefty says he feels healthy and he's comfortable with his innings.

"My innings workload has been fine," Chapman said. "I missed 29 games at the beginning of the season, but when I came back (with the Yankees), I pitched a lot. My innings of work are now almost even with pitchers that started the season."