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Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Game 2 Score and Live Updates: Lineups, Predictions, Odds and News

Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Game 2 Score and Live Updates: Lineups, Predictions, Odds and News

Previously we looked at what this outing means for Carlos Rodón.

Carlos Rodón faces his biggest test yet in an up-and-coming year.

The first season of Carlos Rodón's six-year contract with the Yankees was an unmitigated disaster. Rodón earned $22.8 million and was capped with a 6.83 ERA in 14 starts. A forearm strain and a back problem limited his workload, but the injuries may have only saved him from further turmoil.

A year later, Rodón was scheduled to start Game 2 of the World Series. He bounced back from his tumultuous 2023 with a 3.96 ERA, a 16-9 record, an improved strikeout rate and a reduced walk rate. Although Rodón still doesn't have quite the swing-and-miss power of 2021 and 2022, he has returned as a reliable starter for the Yankees.

“I think a lot of it just has to do with confidence,” Rodón said, “confidence in my abilities and in myself.” I just find it and go out there and compete and prove to myself that I can still play this game, Because last year was hard.”

In Game 2, the left-hander, who had a 2.20 ERA in September, will try to pitch like he did in Game 1 of the ALCS, when he limited the Guardians to just one run over six innings and struck out nine batters.

This year's version of Rodón has benefited from increased use of his changeup, a pitch he exclusively throws to right-handers. Rodón gets a cold with almost every other substitution he makes. The changeup has become a great complement to the back-foot slider Rodón uses against right-handers. Notably, Mookie Betts is just 1 of 19 against Rodón in his career. The Los Angeles lineup as a whole has a poor track record when it comes to hitting contact against Rodón, but don't overlook the fact that the Dodgers led the MLB with a .795 OPS against left-handed hitters during the regular season.

Expect Rodón to use his slider heavily against strong lefties like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. The pitch caused a whiff rate of 41.3 for left-handed hitters.

“I know they have good hitters,” Rodón said, “but we're here for a reason, I'm here for a reason. “I think our lineup is just as good. Honestly, I think we're better, but I'm biased. …I'm a big leaguer too. I'm supposed to get these guys out. That’s what I get paid for.”

Rodón hasn't thrown more than six innings in any of his three postseason starts, and there's a good chance that will continue Saturday. Opposing hitters have an OPS of .846 when facing Rodón for the third time in a game.

With a strong showing in Game 2, Rodón could continue his resurgent year and continue to put the struggles of 2023 on the back burner.

One final number to consider: Rodón has a 4.40 ERA in three starts this postseason. But his FIP is only 2.12.

“I had a goal in mind this year where I just wanted to be confident and try to hit the ground running as best I could,” Rodón said. “I think it’s worked out so far, but I know that me and my teammates still want to do something.”

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