The New York Yankees gave up 18 runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, officially logging a series loss in the process.
The team might have hoped for more from young starter Will Warren, who had impressed in his last four starts by giving up just five earned runs combined with the team winning each game. Instead, Warren coughed up seven earned runs in just over one inning against the Dodgers.
Now the Yankees will be going with journeyman Ryan Yarbrough in the final game in Los Angeles. But that move is turning heads as they could have gone with Carlos Rodon, who is enjoying a great season in the third year of a $162 million contract.
After taking on the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, Rodon would have been able to pitch on Sunday with the regular four days of rest. But, because he matched a season high with 105 pitches across seven innings in that outing, the Yankees opted to give him a longer breather.
“Rodon coming off a deep one the other day, we just felt like it was probably the best and that puts him in line to go Tuesday and Sunday,” explained manager Aaron Boone, per Randy Miller of NJ.com. “And obviously Yarbrough is throwing the ball really well, so we just felt like this was the best plan.”
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Yarbrough, who was a member of the Dodgers when they won the World Series title last year, has been surprisingly effective for the Yankees so far this season. He has a 3.06 ERA with 35 strikeouts in four starts so far.
Still, Yankees fans might be disappointed that Rodon isn’t toeing the rubber for a grudge match against the Dodgers.
“Rodon started the season slow, going 1-3 with a 5.43 ERA in his first four starts,” Miller added. “Since, he’s 6-0 with a 1.27 ERA in eight starts. He’s worked 13 scoreless innings in his last two and allowed one run over 18 innings in his previous three, all wins.”
As the Yankees look to wrap up their road trip with a win, Yarbrough will have to be the pitcher to get them there.
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