Carlos Rodón gave the Yankees a brief scare on Wednesday, and his postgame explanation didn’t do much to ease it.
The left-hander’s fastball was sitting in the low 90s over the first three innings of his start against the Minnesota Twins, a noticeable dip from where he’s been all season. Rodón opened the game throwing some heaters at 90 mph and averaged 92.6 mph on the pitch through those first three frames, well below his season mark of 94.4 mph.
The good news for New York was that Rodón found another gear later. In his final three innings, he began pumping more pitches above 95 mph, which at least suggested the early drop wasn’t sticking around for the full outing.
After the game, Rodón said he was dealing with tightness early before loosening up as the start went on. According to Gary Phillips of The New York Daily News, Rodón did not get into where the tightness was located or whether it was a specific issue, leaving the comment open-ended rather than reassuring.
With regards to his velocity, Carlos Rodón said he started off a little "tight" today, but he was able to loosen up as the game went on. He threw a handful of pitches over 95 mph after the third inning. #Yankees https://t.co/92mg2PwKwH
- Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) September 16, 2026
That’s the part the Yankees would rather not hear this time of year. Rodón is projected to be their No. 4 starter in the postseason behind Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole and Max Fried, and the club needs him to stay steady with the playoffs approaching.
The concern is easy to understand given how much pitching turbulence New York has already absorbed. Max Fried has had two stints on the injured list.
Rodón himself has had two. Ryan Weathers and Fernando Cruz are currently on the IL, while Cole and Clarke Schmidt both missed time this season as they worked back from Tommy John surgery.
Rodón also didn’t make his season debut until May after offseason surgery.
There’s more on Rodón’s medical file, too. He underwent surgery last October to remove a bone spur from his left elbow, and he also dealt with a hamstring issue during his rehab. Later, he missed more than a month and a half from Jun. 28 to Aug. 18 because of left elbow inflammation.
For all that, Rodón has still been excellent when on the mound. He’s made 15 starts this season and owns a 2.95 ERA. But this latest velocity dip, even with the rebound after the third inning, is the kind of thing the Yankees will be watching closely.
In Other News...
Red Sox Could Force A Yankees Wild Card Adjustment
Bostons postseason planning has already started to take shape, and one of the more intriguing ideas involves adding Braiden Ward to the mix as a late-game speed threat. The 27-year-old outfielder has built a reputation around his ability to steal bases in the minors, and interim manager Chad Tracy has acknowledged that side of his game while stopping short of saying anything is settled.
For the Yankees, the possibility matters because the Red Sox are expected to meet them in a Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium. A bench player who can change a game with his legs can alter how a team handles the late innings, from pitch selection to defensive positioning, and New York may need to account for that wrinkle if Boston decides Ward is worth carrying into October. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Volpe Is Making The Yankees Ask One Frustrating Question
Anthony Volpes brief stretch at second base has given the Yankees a fresh look at a move they waited too long to make. Since Jazz Chisholm Jr. landed on the injured list, Volpe has handled the new position in four games without an error, and the early returns have suggested the glove might play anywhere the club needs it. For a team always trying to squeeze more value out of its infield, that kind of smooth transition is hard to ignore.
What makes it frustrating is the timing. The Yankees have spent so much of Volpes young career treating shortstop as the only destination that they may have delayed a change that could have helped both him and the roster sooner. His defensive fit at second base is now in plain view, which leaves the bigger question hanging: whether this is just a temporary patch or the start of a shift that could reshape his path in New York. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Suddenly Have A Real Luis Garcia Jr. October Question
Luis Garcia Jr. arrived on Aug. 3 as the kind of move contenders make when they want another left-handed power bat for the stretch run, and he has done more than just fit in. Since settling in at first base, he has been a steadier defender while also producing at the plate, giving the Yankees a useful mix of offense and reliability at a spot that can quietly swing October games.
The bigger question now is whether Garcias work at first base can hold up under postseason pressure. Former manager Joe Girardi and broadcaster Michael Kay have both praised the defensive adjustment, but October has a way of testing every new wrinkle, and the Yankees suddenly have to decide how much trust to place in a player whose recent surge has made him a far more important part of the roster than anyone expected when he arrived. [Read more 🡒]