Yankees Notebook: Carlos Rodon plays catch
Aaron Boone had positive, if minor, news regarding Carlos Rodon’s rehab prior to the Yankees’ series finale against the Blue Jays, as the southpaw played catch Sunday.
Rodon has been sidelined since suffering a left forearm strain early in spring training, but a “barking” back recently delayed the pitcher for a few days. Boone has said that tests, including a CT scan, have come back “pretty normal.” On Sunday, Boone added that Rodon’s back is “fine,” and the Yankees hope for him to continue his throwing program this week before eventually moving to a bullpen session.
“Hopefully the back continues to subside,” Boone said. “But I don’t think it’s anything major, like structurally or from a test standpoint.
“He hasn’t lost a lot of throwing time. So he should get right back into that as soon as he can get through this.”
Rodon, the Yankees’ biggest addition of the offseason, joined the team on a six-year, $162 million contract in December. He’s battled injuries in the past, but he’s also coming off two consecutive All-Star campaigns with the White Sox and Giants.
Rodon is 27-13 with a 2.67 ERA and 422 strikeouts over 55 starts and 310.2 innings since the beginning of the 2021 season. He’s also one of three Yankees starters currently on the injured list, as Luis Severino (lat) and Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery) are out, too.
Jhony Brito, Domingo German and Sunday’s starter, Clarke Schmidt, have filled the void with mixed results.
A HAPPY SKIPPER
With significant injuries to every facet of the Yankees’ roster, the team entered Sunday with a 13-8 record and a third place standing in the American League East. The Rays are first, while the Orioles were second.
While the Yankees would like to be higher in the division, Boone is please with how his team has performed despite missing the aforementioned starters, slugger Giancarlo Stanton, center fielder Harrison Bader, and relievers Tommy Kahnle, Lou Trivino and Jonathan Loaisiga, among others.
“We’re beat up, there’s no denying that,” Boone said. “That said, the guys have played really, really well. We’ve caught the ball incredibly well. We’re doing things on the bases. We’ve had some good situational at-bats in winning scenarios, as well as a handful of guys that have gotten off to really good starts that have carried us a little bit offensively. Obviously, being down a couple of guys in the rotation, a couple guys in the pen, it’s created some opportunities, and I feel like, especially out of the bullpen, we’ve seen some guys emerge that have not only put themselves in a good position to contribute now, but are interesting people moving forward.”
The Yankees’ bullpen entered Sunday’s game with a 2.32 ERA, the best mark in the American League.
RED-HOT COLE
With other Yankees starters rehabbing, Gerrit Cole has gotten off to an exceptional start this season. He’s logged a 4-0 record, 0.79 ERA and 36 strikeouts over five starts and 34 innings. Cole most recently blanked the Blue Jays for 5.2 innings on Saturday.
His ERA is the third lowest ever by a Yankees pitcher through their first five starts of the season. Only Eddie Lopat (0.60 ERA in 1951) and Spud Chandler (0.60 ERA in 1946) have recorded lower marks since earned runs became an official stat in 1913.
Lopat finished the 1952 season with a 2.91 ERA, while Chandler finished his 1946 campaign with a 2.10 ERA.
