Carlos Rodon puts the Yankees a step backward

Carlos Rodon‘s difficult start took a darker twist on Sunday as he struggled against the Astros. The Yankees’ left-handed starter conceded five runs in just 2 ⅔ innings before departing the game prematurely due to hamstring tightness. His homers and walks continue to annoy the Yankees fans and injuries have stoked fears of the $162-million starter turning into another bitter deal. Also, Carlos Rodon put the Yankees a step backward undoing the big boost that Nestor Cortes gave the team a day before.

Carlos Rodon experienced discomfort in his left hamstring during a few pitches in the third inning. However, after a brief break, which involved consulting with two athletic trainers and the manager, and throwing two warm-up pitches, the left-hander believed he was fit to continue. Unfortunately, the outcome was not in his favor as he was ultimately removed from the game. At that point, the Yankees were trailing the Astros 5-1, and the final score ended up being 9-7 in favor of the Astros.

Before departing from the game, Carlos Rodon had already surrendered two walks and three hits, two of which resulted in home runs. It was another disappointing outing for the left-hander, who the Yankees saw as the one carrying their big hopes in the 2023 season.

Concern over injuries to Carlos Rodon

The 30-year-old, who signed a six-year contract with the team, was sidelined for the initial three months of the season due to a left forearm strain and back problems. When he returned, the Yankees expected a big boost, which has proved to be a letdown so far.

Carlos Rodon was eager for an opportunity to salvage his start on Sunday and avoid ending with a disappointing performance. However, as he threw his 58th pitch to Houston’s Chas McCormick, he seemed visibly uncomfortable, indicating that his desire to finish strong might be in jeopardy.

Manager Aaron Boone and a trainer visited Carlos Rodon at the mound, where he stretched his left leg and took a sip of water. The Yankees were determined to take every precaution necessary to avoid further injury issues for their valuable $162 million offseason signing, who spent the first half of the 2023 season on the injured list.

Carlos Rodon tossed a few warm-up pitches, had another discussion with the trainer, and then left the game amid boos from the crowd at Yankee Stadium.

The team stated that Carlos Rodon will undergo further evaluation over the next 24 hours.

Carlos Rodon’s outings fall short of expectations

Since joining the Yankees on a six-year contract, Carlos Rodon’s contribution to the rotation has been underwhelming. After his return in early July, he has struggled, resulting in a 7.33 ERA in six starts before leaving Sunday’s game.

In his 27 innings pitched, Carlos Rodon has allowed a total of eight home runs, including a three-run homer by Jake Meyers in the second inning and a two-run shot by Yordan Alvarez in the third inning on Sunday.

Carlos Rodon is optimistic about being ready for his next start, but he’ll have to wait until Monday for the MRI results to confirm his availability.

Carlos Rodón left today's game with left hamstring tightness. He's being examined at Yankee Stadium by Dr. David Trofa. Additional examinations will take place over the next 24 hours.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 6, 2023

Carlos Rodon expressed confidence in his availability for any upcoming duties, but he emphasized that the final determination would depend on the imaging results. The Yankees are in dire need of improved pitching from him, as his current record stands at 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA in six starts.

In his current season, Carlos Rodon has recorded 18 walks and given up eight home runs in 27 innings. During his All-Star season with the Giants last year, he allowed 52 walks and only 12 homers across a career-high 178 innings pitched. This has been a nightmare for him and is proved to be the reason for the Yankees’ downfall on Sunday.

The Yankees (58-54) have been unable to secure a series win in their last four matchups and now find themselves 4 ½ games behind in the race for an AL wild-card spot as they head to face the White Sox.

Carlos Rodon’s start is a setback, a potentially significant one, for the Yankees, who were looking to maintain their winning streak after Cortes’ nasty show on Saturday. The extent of Rodon’s injury is yet to be determined. Regardless of his health, he continues to struggle with keeping the ball in the park, which again is a cause of concern for the Yankees.

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