MLB Playoffs: Yankees pitcher sets modern postseason record

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon singled against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, setting a modern postseason record.

Rodon allowed just one run in six innings, putting the Yankees in position to win Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. They were leading 4-1 when the veteran left-hander was removed after the sixth inning.

Rodon also struck out nine batters while recording 25 swings and misses, a record in MLB's pitch tracking era (since 2008).

Yankees teammate Gerrit Cole set the previous record of 23 Whiffs in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Cole struck out 13 batters in seven innings in Game 1 of the best-of-three series, which the Yankees won 12-3.

The 31-year-old Rodon got 12 swings and misses with his four-seam fastball on Monday, commanding the pitch and changing speeds with impeccable precision. He threw the pitch 52 times – only 13 times for balls, the rest for strikes.

Rodon also recorded nine swings and misses with his slider, three with his changeup and one with his cutter. It was a pitching masterclass from the veteran that set up the Yankees' bullpen well for the rest of the series.

Rodon went 16-9 with a 3.96 earned run average in 32 regular season starts for the Yankees. It was a remarkable rebound season for the veteran in the second year of his six-year, $162 million contract signed in December 2022.

In 2023, Rodon made just 14 starts, going 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA. The Yankees missed the postseason altogether. Like Rodon, they rebounded significantly in 2024, winning the American League East and securing first place in the league.

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Rodon made one start against the Kansas City Royals in the Wild Card round. It didn't go well. He allowed four runs in 3.2 innings as the Yankees suffered their only loss in the best-of-five series.

Rodon got new life in the ALCS and took advantage of his opportunity.

Starting pitching was seen as a key advantage for New York in the series. Cole is scheduled to start Game 2 on Tuesday. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil are scheduled to start Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland on Thursday and Friday. Everyone is able to intervene deeply in a game.

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No American League team had fewer good starts than the Guardians this season, and no team had fewer starts (five) with 100 or more pitches.

That advantage was on full display in Game 1, when Guardians starter Alex Cobb allowed three runs in just 2.2 innings.

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