The Boston Red Sox improved to 20-27 on the year with a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. Closer Aroldis Chapman locked down his 11th save of the season and moved one step closer to Mariano Rivera on the all-time saves list. 

Chapman came in for his 17th appearance in the ninth inning with the Red Sox leading 3-1 and made quick work of the heart of the Kansas City lineup, striking out pinch hitter Starling Marte, then getting right fielder Jac Caglianone and left fielder Michael Massey to ground out, ending the game and securing the 378th save of his major league career. With the save, the 38-year-old lefty passed former Twins closer Joe Nathan to move into 10th place on the all-time saves leaderboard. Chapman will now turn his attention to former Red Sox pitcher and Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, who is 12 saves ahead of him for the ninth most saves in major league history. 

What a play to win it!

The @RedSox hang on 😮 pic.twitter.com/TGJDaBFxfU— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2026

Chapman has been nothing short of a revelation for the Red Sox. After signing a one-year deal with Boston ahead of the 2025 season. Chapman posted a career low 1.17 ERA across 67 appearances in 2025, walking the fewest batters per nine innings of his 16-year major league career, en route to the second Reliever of the Year award of his career. His career year was rewarded with a one-year, $13 million extension with a mutual option for the 2027 season. 

It has been more of the same for Chapman in 2026; he has allowed just one run on 7 hits in 15.2 innings, while striking out 21 and walking seven across 15.2 innings, further cementing his Hall of Fame candidacy. 

In other Red Sox news

Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony will be shut down from baseball activities until at least Friday after experiencing soreness while trying to resume swinging. The 22-year-old Anthony has been out since spraining his wrist in Detroit on May 4. 

Enddy Azocar with a double & a homer for Salem on Thursday! pic.twitter.com/VXnBNFpQfP— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) May 16, 2026

Two Red Sox farmhands received an award from Minor League Baseball on Monday morning. No. 12 prospect Enddy Azocar was awarded the Carolina League Hitter of the Week after hitting .429/.478/.714 in five games for the Single-A Salem Ridge Yaks. 18-year-old shortstop Louis Andujar won the Florida Coast League hitter of the week after hitting .538/.667/1.077 for the FCL Red Sox.

The Red Sox will look to secure the series win in Kansas City on Tuesday night. Ranger Suarez will get the start for Boston, while Kansas City has yet to name a starter, after placing Tuesday's projected starter, Kris Bubic, on the injured list ahead of Monday's Red Sox win. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium set for 7:40 p.m. ET. 

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