1 week Ago
CLEVELAND — Regardless of the result in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night, Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón was one sleep away from the biggest start of his big-league career. Either he’d be responsible for stopping Cleveland’s momentum after back-to-back wins for the Guardians or he’d have a chance to set the tone as the Yankees look to clinch a bid to the World Series. Both scenarios are as pressure-packed as it gets.
They’re the type of start that require a level of self-control when it comes to harnessing emotions. A week ago, coming out of Rodón’s meltdown in his Division Series start against the Royals, that would’ve been a huge red flag for the left-hander. He let his emotions get the best of him then.
The stakes are much higher now. But Rodón learned from those mistakes. It’s why the Yankees are so confident that the southpaw is ready to pitch well with the Yankees on the brink of an American League pennant on Saturday night.
“He’s probably the guy I point to the most of just benefiting from the experience of the postseason,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Friday afternoon before taking a 3-1 lead in the ALCS, defeating the Guardians 8-6 in a Game 4 thriller. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER: RESTORING THE GLORY Rodón was as fired up as he’s ever been in pinstripes during his Yankees postseason debut against the Royals on October 7, Game 2 of the ALDS. While striking out the side in the first — with electric stuff — he was screaming and bouncing around, sticking out his tongue.
Once the fourth inning rolled around, everything unraveled for the left-hander. He gave up a solo home run to Royals catcher Salvador Perez and later admitted to losing his focus ever so slightly. It was enough for Kansas City to kick through and break the game open with a four spot.
In his next outing, Rodón was a machine. He didn’t roar or celebrate, he just shoved, twirling six innings of one-run ball to lead the Yankees to a series-opening victory over the Guardians. The difference, Rodón reiterated on Friday afternoon, was his emotions.
“I thought that I stayed within and just controlled what was in front of me,” Rodón said. “Everything behind me and things that I couldn’t control, I just kind of brushed it off. I thought I was very good at that.
” Recently, Rodón spoke about how he watched Gerrit Cole attentively during the ace’s masterpiece against Kansas City, their clincher to advance to the ALCS. Figuring out how to keep it simple and stay locked in on the task at hand, until the job is finished, was the key. Boone believes that the experience of those two starts in succession point Rodón in a position to have success in Game 5 and any other critical postseason outing going forward.
“Pitching for the first time in a playoff game in the Bronx, coming out hot, you could see it emotionally,” Boone said. “Stuff was great, he was great early, but probably petered out a little bit, and I think he grew from that. I think he learned from that.
” Boone then added: “He’s ready to go [for Game 5]. I feel great about where he’s at and what he’s going to bring.” With what’s at stake, the Yankees need that chiseled version of Rodón to take the mound at Progressive Field with a chance to end this series in five.
He hasn’t pitched in the postseason in pinstripes on the road before, but speaking of experience, he can lean on 13 career starts in that ballpark dating back to his career with the White Sox in the AL Central. He’s pitched in Progressive Park more than any other stadium that he hasn’t called his home yard. It’s also a big ballpark, which can’t hurt for a pitcher that was bit by the long ball often during the regular season.
“It’s just one of those things where sometimes as players, you show up to certain places and you pitch well,” Rodón said. “Sometimes you don’t pitch well. I’m sure we could find somewhere out of the 30 ballparks here that I don’t pitch well in.
Fortunately I do pitch well in this one because tomorrow is going to be a pretty big game.” Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Max Goodman may be reached at [email protected] ..
