New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon has had a successful August, going 3-0 with a 3.49 ERA over five starts.
On Friday night, he’ll try to help New York secure at least a split of a four-game road series against the Chicago White Sox from a familiar perch: the pitcher’s mound at Rate Field.
Rodon (14-7, 3.24 ERA) spent the first seven seasons of his career with the White Sox after Chicago drafted him third overall in 2014, navigating various injuries throughout his time there.
He signed with San Francisco for the 2022 season but has spent the past three campaigns with the Yankees.
Friday will mark Rodon’s first appearance on Chicago’s South Side since he defeated the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 29, 2021, while with the White Sox. Rodon has faced his former team just once, spacing two runs and four hits in six innings to beat Chicago at Yankee Stadium on May 19, 2024.
Rodon has won three straight starts and is coming off Sunday’s 7-2 victory against Boston, when he limited the Red Sox to two runs and one hit in 5 2/3 innings. He matched a season high with five walks while striking out three.
New York benefited from four perfect innings from the bullpen and home runs by Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Trent Grisham to win Thursday’s series opener 10-4.
New York stretched its winning streak to five games while earning its 12th victory in the past 16. The Yankees are a half-game behind Boston in the race for the first American League wild-card berth and are four games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead.
“We’ve been swinging it well, and we’ve just got to keep on rolling,” Bellinger said.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was 1-for-38 before a fourth-inning double, contributed two hits and an RBI.
The White Sox have lost three straight games and also could be without three starters on Friday. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (left hamstring strain) landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, and shortstop Colson Montgomery has missed two straight games with left side soreness. Also, Miguel Vargas (left wrist contusion) will undergo further evaluation Friday after leaving Thursday’s game in the fifth inning following a collision at first base with Yankees baserunner Aaron Judge.
Vargas delivered a game-tying grand slam in the second and has six multi-hit games and a .281 average in August.
“He’s one of the guys out there who sets the tone for the group, in the clubhouse and on the field,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “So, hopefully, he gets back out there quickly.”
Right-hander Yoendrys Gomez (3-1, 4.73 ERA) will start for the White Sox on Friday. As with Rodon, Gomez has excelled in August, albeit over a smaller sample size.
Recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 12, Gomez, who spent time as a reliever with the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers this season, is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA over 14 2/3 innings in three starts since shifting to the rotation.
He took a no-decision against Minnesota on Sunday, scattering two hits, three walks and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 shutout innings in his team’s 8-0 win. He has never faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
–Field Level Media
