Aroldis Chapman gives Yankees reason to worry

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (left knee tendinitis) will miss Monday’s All-Star Game in Washington D.C. because …

CLEVELAND — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will bow out of his first chance to pitch in an All-Star Game in pinstripes.

The 30-year-old said, via the team’s translator, that he wants to give his injured left knee time to rest. Chapman has been dealing with left knee tendinitis for months.

Chapman pitched in four other All-Star games, each as a member of the Reds.

The Astros’ Charlie Morton will take Chapman’s spot.

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What it means: For the Yankees? Right now? Nothing, Aaron Boone said. The Yankees manager told reporters Friday that he’ll use Chapman as if he’s a healthy player through Sunday’s final game of the first half.

“Just dealing with tendinitis, it’s probably the best thing,” Boone said. “This is the only time obviously in the course of a season where guys have a little bit of downtime or a little bit of a break and it’s probably wise for him to have a few days extra to just not pound on it.”

What Chapman said: He said the decision to skip playing in the Midsummer Classic — he’ll still attend it — was his decision. He added that pitching in Thursday’s 7-4 win over the Indians didn’t make the problem worse.

“Definitely,” Chapman said. “The thing here is, I’m trying to put together a couple of days where I don’t do any baseball activity, where I just let the knee get better. There’s a possibility of seven days where I don’t do any baseball activities. I just would like to take the rest.”

What Chapman has done: Chapman has 25 saves with a 1.38 ERA in 40 games and 39 innings pitched. He’s striking out 15 1/2 batters per nine innings while walking 3 1/2.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.