The Yankees haven’t yet announced their 26-man roster for their American League Championship series against the Cleveland Guardians, but Aaron Boone did announce the team’s starting pitching plans for the first four games on Sunday afternoon.
Lefty Carlos Rodon will get the ball in Monday’s Game 1, followed in the series by Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil to round out the first four games.
Rodon started Game 2 of the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals, and while he was lights-out through the first three innings, the wheels fell off in the fourth inning when the lefty allowed four earned runs and couldn’t escape the frame, giving up a total of four earned runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings.
“If I look back at that start, the first three innings went pretty well. My stuff was there, was pretty electric,” Rodon said on Sunday. “I think going into the fourth, I knew I had a tough at-bat against Salvador Perez, who notoriously has done well against me and hits lefties really well. His numbers are pretty good, so I knew that at-bat was coming up. … We had a one-run lead and I wanted a shut-down that inning, and he made a good swing and it kind of brought me out of focus just a tick. I didn’t want to give up that run there and I knew that at-bat was important.”
This time out, Rodon, who was clearly fired up on the mound against the Royals, says he wants to “channel that energy a little bit better.” When he takes the mound in Game 1.
But given what should be a vintage October atmosphere in the Bronx, keeping those emotions in check might be easier said than done.
“Look, I’m sure Yankee Stadium is going to be rocking [Monday] night,” said Boone. “It looks like cooler weather is rolling in for these next two games, so it’s going to have that October feel to it. We’re now in the round playing for a chance to win a pennant and go to the World Series. It’s going to be an awesome atmosphere.
“Obviously, we have some history with a lot of guys over there in the playoffs, so I’m sure it will be a great environment.”
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