NEW YORK — With their season on the line, the Yankees are turning once again to Carlos Rodon to save their playoff hopes. The left-hander will start Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium, facing a 2-0 series deficit against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Yankees trust him in high-pressure situations where there’s no margin for error. The Blue Jays have dominated the first two games, and one more loss would send the Yankees home. Still, inside the clubhouse, belief in Rodon remains strong.
“Any time we give him the ball, we feel like we have an excellent chance to win,” Boone said.
Rodon acknowledged the intensity of the moment. “It’s a lot louder,” he said of Yankee Stadium in October, describing the heightened emotion and focus.
The veteran starter knows pressure well. After a rough late-season outing in Kansas City, he retreated to a quiet cabin in Missouri to reset mentally. That trip helped him rebuild both his rhythm and confidence, lessons he now carries into the postseason.
A record vs. Toronto that comforts Yankees
The Yankees have reason for cautious optimism based on Rodon’s track record against the Blue Jays. In two regular-season starts at Rogers Centre, he posted a 3.60 ERA across 10 innings — solid numbers considering Toronto’s potent lineup.
Still, the matchup comes with challenges. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been one of Rodon’s toughest opponents, going 10-for-17 with three doubles and a homer in their meetings. The Yankees understand that neutralizing Guerrero will be key to survival. Coaches are stressing better sequencing and tighter command to keep Toronto’s bats quiet.
Cody Bellinger, who has been one of the Yankees’ most vocal supporters of Rodon, said, “Every time he’s on the mound, full confidence in him.”
Former Yankees great Andy Pettitte also praised Rodon’s big-game poise, recalling how the lefty responded after earlier adversity. “He had one like this the other day and was great,” Pettitte said.
Rodon’s 2025 season: consistency meets evolution
Rodon’s 2025 campaign has been one of the most complete of his career. He finished the regular season 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA and 203 strikeouts, while maintaining an impressive 1.05 WHIP — one of the best marks in the league.
Those results stem from how he has evolved as a pitcher. Once reliant mostly on his fastball and slider, Rodon has expanded his repertoire. He now mixes in a changeup, a curveball, and a sinker, keeping hitters guessing and improving his efficiency deep into games.
Boone often describes Rodon’s mindset as “chopping wood,” meaning he focuses on one pitch at a time without letting the game’s stakes overwhelm him. That approach has earned respect throughout the Yankees clubhouse. Teammates admire how he keeps calm even when the pressure mounts, viewing his focus as one of the team’s most valuable assets.
Into hostile territory: Yankee Stadium in playoff mode
Game 3 returns to the Bronx, where the atmosphere promises to be electric. The Yankees went 50-31 at home during the regular season and hit 274 home runs overall. That power surge has been central to their identity all year, but their bats must now deliver when it matters most.
Toronto, on the other hand, enters Yankee Stadium with confidence and a chance to clinch the series. Shane Bieber is slated to start for the Blue Jays, giving them another experienced arm on the mound.
Rodon knows what awaits him — a roaring crowd, a tense stage, and expectations sky-high. He insists that pitching in front of a passionate home audience helps him lock in. The same mental reset that guided him earlier this year, he said, has taught him how to stay composed in chaos.
The ground the Yankees have lost
The Yankees’ first two games in Toronto were humbling. In Game 1, the Blue Jays cruised to a 10-1 victory, exploiting every mistake New York made. Game 2 was even more painful, as rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage threw 5⅓ hitless innings with 11 strikeouts. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then added to the damage with a grand slam that blew the game open.
The Yankees managed only eight runs combined in both contests, struggling to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Their bullpen faltered, and their defense failed to back up the pitching staff.
Now, with the series shifting to New York, every inning is critical. A loss would end their season, while a win would extend hope just a little longer. Rodon’s start represents not just a chance to win, but an opportunity to reset the narrative.
Trust in Rodon fills clubhouse
Despite the rough start to the ALDS, the Yankees’ faith in Rodon remains unwavering. Boone continues to describe his confidence in the lefty as “a ton,” pointing to his consistency and ability to rise to the moment.
Rodon’s chopping-wood demeanor has earned respect from both veterans and young teammates. Bellinger and others have echoed the sentiment that when Rodon takes the mound, the team feels balanced and focused.
This trust, built over a long season of battles, gives the Yankees a flicker of belief that they can still claw their way back into the series.
Rodon must manage emotion, not let it run him
The biggest challenge for Rodon tonight won’t come from the Blue Jays’ bats — it will come from within. Managing adrenaline in front of a packed Yankee Stadium crowd will be crucial. Overthrowing or letting emotion take over could undo his rhythm, something he worked hard to control after that Missouri reset.
Toronto hitters, familiar with his patterns, will look for opportunities to attack early in counts. But Rodon has shown the ability to adjust midgame, trusting his mechanics and mound presence.
The Yankees know what’s at stake. Every pitch Rodon throws could define their postseason fate. Every defensive play behind him will carry extra weight.
If he delivers the kind of performance that has defined his 2025 season — focused, fearless, and composed — the Yankees might just find themselves alive for another day in the ALDS.
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