New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon had his manner with the Cleveland Guardians in Sport 1 of the American League Championship Collection and set a contemporary postseason document within the course of.
Rodon allowed just one run in six innings, placing the Yankees in place to win the primary recreation of the best-of-seven collection. They led 4-1 on the time the veteran left-hander was eliminated after the sixth inning.
Rodon additionally struck out 9 batters and recorded 25 swings and misses within the course of — a document in MLB‘s pitch-tracking period (since 2008).
Yankees teammate Gerrit Cole set the earlier document of 23 whiffs within the 2020 American League Wild Card collection in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians. Cole struck out 13 batters in seven innings in Sport 1 of the best-of-three collection, which the Yankees received 12-3.
Rodon, 31, acquired 12 swings and misses along with his four-seam fastball on Monday, commanding the pitch and altering speeds with impeccable precision. He threw the pitch 52 occasions — solely 13 for balls, the remaining for strikes.
Rodon additionally acquired 9 swings and misses along with his slider, three along with his changeup, and one along with his cutter. It was a masterclass in pitching by the veteran, and it arrange the Yankees’ bullpen effectively for the rest of the collection.
Rodon went 16-9 with a 3.96 earned-run common in 32 regular-season begins for the Yankees. It was a exceptional bounce-back season for the veteran in Yr 2 of a six-year, $162 million contract signed in Dec. 2022.
In 2023, Rodon made solely 14 begins and went 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA. The Yankees missed the postseason altogether. Like Rodon, they rebounded in a giant manner in 2024, profitable the American League East and claiming the No. 1 seed within the league.
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Rodon made one begin in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals within the Wild Card spherical. It did not go effectively. He allowed 4 runs in 3.2 innings because the Yankees suffered their solely loss within the best-of-five collection.
Given new life within the ALCS, Rodon made probably the most of his alternative.
New York Yankees/Getty Pictures
Beginning pitching was seen as a key benefit for New York within the collection. Cole is scheduled to begin Sport 2 on Tuesday. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil determine to begin Video games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in Cleveland. Every is able to pitching successfully deep right into a recreation.
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No American League group acquired fewer high quality begins this season than the Guardians, and no group acquired fewer begins (5) of 100 pitches or more.
That benefit was on full show in Sport 1 when Guardians starter Alex Cobb allowed three runs in solely 2.2 innings.
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