It’s Carlos Rodon in Game 1 tonight, looking to put the Yankees up 1-0 in the Best-of-7 ALCS while also trying to figure out how to keep what was a strong first three innings in his ALDS start rolling longer.
“Game 1 just sets the tone. Looking forward to being out there again, feeling the energy, and just giving my team the best chance to win,” Rodon said Sunday. “Looking back (at ALDS Game 2), the first three innings, my stuff was there, it was pretty electric. Then going into the fourth, I knew I had a tough at-bat against Salvador Perez, who notoriously has done well against me and hits lefties really well. I was confident with what I had and what I was doing, and we had a one-run lead and I wanted to shut down that inning, and he made a good swing and it kind of brought me out of focus just a tick. I didn't want to give up that run there, and I knew that at-bat was important and that game went tied. It's kind of one of those things when I look back, just knowing to keep that focus and I guess channel that energy a little bit better so the focus stays on the field.”
How he attacks Cleveland, and his pitch mix, will be totally different than that start against Kansas City, as it is with every unique opponent, but perhaps the change-up, which he has a 50 percent swing-and-miss rate on and wishes he used a little bit more in the ALDS, could be a more effective weapon.
“They’re a very good lineup, formidable, but that 50 percent swing and miss, I think that's what makes it dangerous,” Rodon said of his change. “I also think the usage is not as much as fastball/slider, so it's kind of an element of surprise to that pitch. They're not sure when I'm going to throw it, but they know I will. They're just not sure when it will be deployed. When you have a 50 percent swing and miss pitch, there's definitely more times for usage of it. I'm not sure when that's going to come about, and I'm not going to give too much information because I'm sure people are listening to this.”
Whatever comes, though, Rodon knows it comes down to controlling emotion and executing his pitches.
“There's some things I could take away from that last start where I could be definitely more composed and figure out how to channel that energy into staying focused and continuing it throughout the outing,” Rodon said. “We have a big series to play, and a common goal to get to and win the World Series. It comes down to win or lose. A lot of respect for that Cleveland team – it’s going to be a fun challenge.”