NEW YORK — The New York Yankees made a rotation adjustment Tuesday that highlights their belief in Carlos Rodon as a key postseason arm. Manager Aaron Boone announced that Rodon will start Thursday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox instead of Friday. At first glance, the move looks minor, but its impact is significant.
By pitching Thursday, Rodon will receive five full days of rest before a potential Game 2 assignment in the American League Wild Card series. With New York at 88-68 and holding the top AL Wild Card position, the decision shows the organization is focused on setting up its playoff rotation for maximum success.
Rodon emerges as Yankees’ most reliable arm
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Rodon has turned in a strong season at age 32, recording a 17-9 record and a 3.04 ERA, seventh-best in the American League. The turnaround has been striking, considering his struggles in his first two seasons after signing a six-year, $162 million deal.
His latest outing against Baltimore demonstrated why the Yankees are centering their playoff strategy around him. Rodon worked seven innings, allowing just one run and leaning on his changeup to dominate hitters.
“The changeup was probably as good as I’ve seen it,” Boone said after that start. “He used it a lot, but then had everything else going off of it. You see the pitchability, the pitcher on display now — the sinker, the four-seam, little more life at the end of the game when he knows he’s towards the end and he reaches back a little bit for more.”
Baseball Savant metrics support Boone’s praise. Rodon ranks in the 97th percentile in Pitching Run Value and the 88th percentile in expected ERA, putting him among the league’s elite arms this year.
Strategic timing reveals playoff blueprint
The timing of the move also benefits Max Fried, who is scheduled to start Wednesday. By aligning Fried and Rodon with identical rest patterns, the Yankees ensure their top two pitchers will be ready with proper recovery heading into October.
Both Fried and Rodon stand out statistically. Among qualified pitchers in 2025, they are the only teammates with ERAs under 3.10. That combination gives New York one of the strongest one-two rotations in baseball and a major advantage in a short postseason series.
The Yankees trail Toronto by one games in the AL East with five contests left. Their schedule appears favorable, with series against Chicago and Baltimore, while the Blue Jays face tougher opposition in Boston and Tampa Bay. The move with Rodon underscores New York’s plan to cover both possible outcomes — division crown or Wild Card entry.
Rodon’s reinvention pays dividends
Rodon’s success in 2025 can be traced back to an offseason change in approach. Once a pitcher who thrived on velocity and high fastballs, he has embraced a more balanced style.
“I think now less is more — because I don’t really have more anymore,” Rodon admitted, noting his fastball velocity has dipped from 95.4 mph in 2021 to 94.2 this year.
Carlos Rodon's fastball-changeup combination works so well off of each other.
His changeup is top 10 in both wOBA and Whiff% among qualified changeups in 2025. pic.twitter.com/yAQWj79O7E
Pitching coach Matt Blake credited the lefty’s willingness to adapt. “He opened his mind to there being a different version of him that he can become and continue forward and have a high level of success. He doesn’t have to anchor to this archetype of who he was — the power fastball-slider.”
The results back up that evolution. Rodon now uses his four-seam fastball about 20 percent less than in his first season with the Yankees. He added a sinker to induce ground balls against lefties and increased his reliance on the changeup against right-handers. Remarkably, he has thrown 303 sinkers this year without allowing a single home run.
October redemption opportunity awaits
Rodon’s transformation has significance beyond the regular season. His last postseason outing — a Game 2 World Series start against the Dodgers — ended poorly, as he gave up four runs and lasted just 10 outs. That disappointment still lingers for both pitcher and team.
This October offers a chance to erase that memory. Armed with a deeper arsenal and sharper command, Rodon believes he is far better prepared.
“I have a different arsenal now,” Rodon said. “I’d probably pitch that game a lot different now.”
Assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne has also played an important role. Rodon credits their honest communication as a factor in his improvement.
“We don’t hide anything from each other, that’s for sure,” Rodon said. “We have a good relationship.”
Yankees position themselves for October run
The adjustment not only keeps Rodon fresh but also fits seamlessly into either postseason scenario. If the Yankees secure the division title and a first-round bye, Rodon can slot into the Division Series rotation. If they enter through the Wild Card, he will be rested and lined up for Game 2.
Rodon has logged 189 1/3 innings in 2025, combining durability with excellence. For a team that once questioned the value of its $162 million investment, his resurgence has been critical to the season’s success.
Boone’s decision reflects more than a tactical shuffle. It shows faith in a pitcher who has redefined himself and become a pillar of the Yankees’ playoff hopes.
As New York eyes October, Rodon stands ready to deliver in the role the organization envisioned when it signed him. The postseason will decide how this move is remembered, but the Yankees have positioned their reinvented left-hander exactly where they want him — front and center when it matters most.
