Rodón starts Game 1 as Yankees set ALCS rotation

NEW YORK -- The late innings of the victory that propelled the Yankees into this American League Championship Series offered something of a clinic on maintaining composure for Carlos Rodón, who said that he watched closely to see how Gerrit Cole would handle the moment.

Rodón marveled at how Cole appeared “like a robot walking to the dugout” after his first six frames against the Royals in Game 4 of the AL Division Series, then saw the ace let loose “a big roar” at the end of his seventh and final inning.

“He knows, like, ‘I did my job,’” Rodón said on Sunday. “I think that’s kind of one thing that resonated with me from that start.”

Rodón will have an opportunity to exhibit what he learned on Monday, as the left-hander draws the start for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians at Yankee Stadium. Rodón will be looking to bounce back from a losing effort in ALDS Game 2, when he lasted just 3 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss.

Pumped up by the emotions of his first postseason start as a Yankee and the second of his career (third appearance), Rodón struck out the side in an impressive first inning that was punctuated by his own “big roar” as he strutted off the field.

Kansas City punched back with four runs in the fourth inning, prompting the Royals’ Maikel Garcia to remark on X, “Don’t celebrate too early.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Rodón’s experience is “one of the learning things you kind of go through” in postseason play.

“I think he's in a really good spot, throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “Hopefully going through his first playoff game here in the Bronx and experiencing all the emotions that you do, there's something that serves him well in this next time.”

The Yanks mostly swatted away Garcia’s comments; they had little choice, since Jazz Chisholm Jr. also made a few remarks online and off, gleefully trolling the Royals and their fans during the ALDS. But Garcia’s nugget of advice might be one that Rodón takes to heart.

“Gerrit is a good poker player,” Rodón said. “Me, not so much. I need to be better at poker.”

• Guardians-Yankees ALCS Game 1 FAQ

Boone said that there was some internal debate over handing the Game 1 start to Rodón, with right-hander Clarke Schmidt also considered. In fact, as the Guardians and Tigers played the early innings of ALDS Game 5 on Saturday, Boone said the call hadn’t yet been made.

Rodón will be pitching on extra rest after his Oct. 7 ALDS start, while Monday would have been Schmidt’s normal turn after going in Game 3 on Oct. 9.

“It was really kind of close, choosing between Clarke and Carlos,” Boone said. “I feel like this keeps them on rhythm as much as possible without giving one guy a huge long layoff.”

Boone said that Cole will start Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Schmidt and Luis Gil have been named the starters for Games 3 and 4 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, respectively. Rodón would be in line for Game 5.

“For him struggling there and getting knocked out in his last outing in the fourth, I also feel like [he] came out throwing the ball really well in his first big experience,” Boone said. “Hopefully it's something he can take from that outing that allows him to really break through and have that outing we know he's capable of.”

New York was 4-2 against the Guardians this season, though Rodón has yet to face them as a Yankee. He’s 8-5 with a 2.81 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) against Cleveland, stats compiled with the White Sox and Giants from 2015-22.

Rodón called the Guardians’ lineup “formidable,” pointing to José Ramírez and Steven Kwan, among others. Rodón said that he expects a “fun challenge” on Monday.

“Game 1 just sets the tone,” Rodón said. “I’m looking forward to being out there again, feeling the energy, and just giving my team the best chance to win.”