Carlos Rodon, Yankees vie to get right in finale vs. Blue Jays
Carlos Rodon was pitching with loose bodies in his left elbow when he struggled in Game 3 of the 2025 American League Division Series. That was the only game the New York Yankees won against the Toronto Blue Jays in that series.
Rodon recovered from surgery and has returned with a pair of difficult outings.
The left-hander hopes to put together a strong performance as the Yankees host the Blue Jays in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday. The most recent Rodon outing against Toronto, in the ALDS, didn't go well.
Rodon (0-1, 5.63 ERA) allowed six runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings last Oct. 7 before New York rallied for a 9-6 win over Toronto to delay its elimination from the series by one night. In that game, Rodon's fastball averaged 93.4 mph and the velocity on his other pitches also diminished.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is 11-for-19 in all matchups with Rodon, belted a two-run homer off Rodon in the first inning.
Overall, Rodon is 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA in nine career regular season starts against Toronto.
This season, Rodon has been tagged for six runs (five earned) on five hits and eight walks in his first eight innings during outings against the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets.
"They didn't go well at all," Rodon said about his rocky two starts.
Rodon's four-seam velocity is 95.3 mph thus far, however he has struggled with command.
In his season debut in Milwaukee on May 10, Rodon allowed three runs on two hits in 4 1/3 innings but also walked five in the 4-3 defeat. In Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Mets, Rodon yielded three runs (two earned) on three hits in 3 2/3 innings, walked five and allowed a run on a throwing error following a wild pitch.
"Both of the innings where he gets dinged there, it's two outs and nobody on, and then some long at-bats," manager Aaron Boone said after that outing. "There's some really encouraging signs. We've got to dial in the command now."
The Blue Jays moved to 6-10 in their past 16 games by recording a 2-1 win over New York on Wednesday after losing the first two games of the series. Andres Giminez scored on a bases-loaded walk and Guerrero added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
Toronto used four relievers in each of the first three games of this series and likely will lean heavily on its bullpen again Thursday.
Right-hander Braydon Fisher (2-1, 3.08) is penciled in to serve as the opener and make his second start of the season and third of his career. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in six career relief appearances versus the Yankees.
Spencer Miles likely will appear as a bulk reliever since 12 of his 13 appearances are out of the bullpen.
Miles pitched 3 2/3 innings of two-hit ball when he threw 56 pitches to 14 hitters in Saturday's win at Detroit. In his previous appearance, he threw 38 pitches in three scoreless innings of a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 10.
The Yankees were held to three runs or fewer for the sixth time in a 4-8 slump on Wednesday. Aaron Judge is 1-for-11 in the series after striking out in all four plate apparances -- three times against Trey Yesavage -- and 4-for-27 with 11 strikeouts over his past seven games.
"He's a good player. I try to strike out everybody," Yesavage said. "I guess it's an accomplishment to strike him out three times, but I try to do that to everybody."
Both teams likely will be without outfielders on Thursday.
New York lost center fielder Trent Grisham to left knee discomfort and is awaiting further testing. He was replaced in the outfield by Spencer Jones in the fifth inning.
Toronto lost Jesus Sanchez after he attempted a diving catch on Paul Goldschmidt's sinking liner in the seventh inning. Manager John Schneider said Sanchez was "winded" and would be re-evaluated Thursday.
--Field Level Media
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 6:06 AM.