Carlos

Rodon

Rodón gave up four hits and two walks. Just like in his first start, his fastball velocity was down 1.7 mph from last year, and his slider and curve were actually down a little more today. He seemed like someone whose stock was on the rebound after upping his strikeout rate in the second half of last season, but this is a pretty disturbing beginning to his spring.

Not a stellar start for Rodón. He averaged 93.7 mph with his fastball today, down from 95.4 mph last season, and his changeup, which seemed to have a different shape to it than usual, was crushed. In all, nine of the 11 balls in play against him were hit hard, including three at over 109 mph.

Rodon gave up six hits, walked none and struck out three. Rodon actually had his good fastball on Saturday as he hit 98 mph multiple times, but it wasn’t enough against the strong Dodgers offense. Los Angeles took the lead on a solo home run by Tommy Edman in the second inning and scored three more runs on a two-run homer by Teoscar Hernandez and a solo shot by Freddie Freeman in the third inning. Rodon has struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark down the stretch. He’s now allowed at least one home run in eight of his last 10 starts including the playoffs. It was an easy call for the Yankees to remove him in the fourth inning with an off day Sunday before Game 3. Rodon would only pitch again if the series goes six games.

Rodon last pitched on Saturday in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians and allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings. He was solid in both of his ALCS starts after allowing four runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Royals in Game 2 of the ALDS. Rodon will start opposite Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday.

Rodón was outstanding over the first four innings, with the only mistake coming on an RBI double on a terrific at-bat from Bo Naylor that drove in big brother Josh. The swing-and-miss stuff was readily apparent, but he did give up a second run in the fifth on a sharp single up the middle by Steven Kwan. He should be ready to start Game 2 of the World Series.

This was maybe Rodón’s best outing as a Yankee, as he finished with zero walks, nine strikeouts and whopping 25 missed swings. The lone run against him came on a homer from Brayan Rocchio in the sixth, and both other hits he surrendered were singles. After wearing down quickly in his lone start against the Royals, he paced himself nicely tonight, and he picked up his first career postseason victory in his third try. Game 2 of the ALCS will come Tuesday, with Tanner Bibee and Gerrit Cole slated to start.

Rodón will get the nod for the opener and be followed by Gerrit Cole in Game 3. Clarke Schmidt will likely get Game 3 and Luis Gil the fourth contest, but that hasn’t been announced just yet. Rodón struggled at the end of his start against the Royals on Monday, but he’ll get a shot to give the Yankees an early series lead against Cleveland. It’s worth pointing out that the Guardians registered a .751 OPS against left-handed pitching compared to .685 against righties.

Rodón was amped up initially, striking out the side on 12 pitches in the first. His velocity was well up, too, but the Royals got to him the second time through the order, collecting four hits, including a homer, in the fourth. Rodón struck out seven and walked none, but it wasn’t enough tonight.

Gerrit Cole is obviously going to be the Game 1 starter, and they’ll go with Rodón in the second game; scheduled for Monday. The left-hander finished 2024 with a 3.96 ERA, but he was better in the second half of the season and excellent in September (2.20 ERA, 34/10 K/BB over 28 2/3 innings). The Yankees haven’t made a decision on a Game 3 starter, and it could be Luis Gil or Clarke Schmidt against either the Royals or Orioles.

Rodón breezed through the first five innings, but allowed back-to-back homers in the sixth to Brian Reynolds and Nick Gonzales to prevent the shutout and also the victory. He ends the regular season with a 3.96 ERA, and he’ll likely get a start behind Gerrit Cole in the ALDS.