The first season of Carlos Rodón’s six-year deal with the Yankees was an unmitigated disaster. Earning $22.8 million, Rodón was shelled for a 6.83 ERA over 14 starts. A forearm strain and a back issue limited his workload, but the injuries may have only saved him from further turmoil.
A year later, Rodón is slated to start Game 2 of the World Series. He recovered from his turbulent 2023 with a 3.96 ERA, a 16-9 record, an improved strikeout rate and a decreased walk rate. Though still not quite the swing-and-miss force he was in 2021 and 2022, Rodón has returned as a reliable starter for the Yankees.
“I think a lot of it has to do with just confidence,” Rodón said, “confidence in my ability and in myself. Just finding it and going out there and competing and proving to myself that I’m able to still play this game because last year was hard.”
In Game 2 the left-hander who had a 2.20 ERA in September will look to pitch like he did in Game 1 of the ALCS, when he limited the Guardians to only one run over six innings and struck out nine batters.
This year’s version of Rodón has benefited from increased usage of his changeup, a pitch he throws exclusively to right-handed hitters. Rodón gets whiffs on nearly one of every two changeups he throws. The change has become a terrific complement to the back-foot slider Rodón uses against right-handed hitters. Notably, Mookie Betts is only 1-for-19 in his career against Rodón. The Los Angeles lineup as a whole has a poor track record when it comes to hitting for contact against Rodón, but do not overlook the fact the Dodgers led MLB with a .795 OPS against left-handed pitching in the regular season.
Against powerful lefties such as Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, expect Rodón to use his slider heavily. The pitch induced a 41.3 whiff rate from left-handed batters.
“I know they have good hitters,” Rodón said, “but we’re here for a reason, I’m here for a reason. I think our lineup is just as good. Honestly, I think we’re better, but I’m biased. …I’m a big leaguer too. I’m supposed to get those guys out. That’s what I’m paid for.”
Rodón has not pitched more than six innings in any of his three postseason starts, and chances are that will continue Saturday. Opposing hitters have an .846 OPS when facing Rodón for the third time in a game.
With a strong outing in Game 2, Rodón could continue his resurgent year and continue to put 2023’s struggles in the rearview.
A final number to consider: Rodón has a 4.40 ERA in three starts this postseason. But his FIP is only 2.12.
“I had a goal coming into this year that I just wanted to be confident and go out there and try to make every start I can,” Rodón said. “I think it has worked out thus far, but there’s one more thing that I know me and my teammates want to do.”
