The Yankees are making a bold move by starting Carlos Rodón against the Guardians, even though it seems risky.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes in Rodón’s talent, saying he’s “a really good pitcher,” despite the tough matchup.
Rodón had an electrifying start against the Royals in ALDS Game 2, striking out three batters on just 12 pitches in the first inning. But then things fell apart when Salvador Perez hit a solo homer and Kansas City added more runs.
Rodón’s first year with the Yankees was rough due to injuries and a high ERA of 6.85 over 14 starts. He improved this season with better health and performance, ending with a 3.96 ERA and nearly 200 strikeouts. Yet, he allowed too many home runs—31 to be exact—while Yankee Stadium boosts homers by 119% compared to other parks.
Guardians’ Strength Against Lefties:
The Guardians excel at hitting left-handed pitchers like Rodón, ranking high in batting average and slugging percentage against them. Players like David Fry, Lane Thomas, Jhonkensy Noel, and José Ramírez thrive against lefties.
Fans might wonder why the Yankees didn’t choose Clarke Schmidt for Game 1 instead of risking Rodón twice early in this series.
Starting Schmidt could have pushed Rodón back to Game 3 at Progressive Field—a more pitcher-friendly environment—and possibly avoided a second start for him until Game 7 if needed.
Despite these concerns, this game is an opportunity for Rodón to prove himself as the player New York invested in heavily. His past performances have made fans skeptical due to his tendency for bad innings but every playoff game offers redemption.
“Game 1 just sets the tone,” said Rodón confidently before stepping onto the field again with hopes of leading his team toward victory.
What do you think? Can Rodón turn things around this time?
