A lefty returns for New York
Carlos Rodon is set to take the mound on Tuesday in Baltimore. The New York Yankees left-hander has not pitched in the majors since June 28. Elbow inflammation sent him to the injured list. He comes back with a 4-2 record and a 3.30 ERA this season.
The timing matters. New York sits atop the American League wild-card race, but the mood has turned uneasy. Three straight defeats, then a 4-3 win in 10 innings at Toronto on Sunday. The offence has gone quiet. The Yankees have been held to one run or fewer in four of their last seven games, with Aaron Judge among the missing.
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To clear a roster spot, New York placed Max Fried on the injured list on Monday. Bone bruise in the left elbow. So the staff has swapped one lefty for another.
Aaron Boone is standing by it. “This season has tested our character and resilience, and I think we’ve got plenty of that,” the Yankees manager said. “We have to keep fighting, knowing we’re a team with some pieces missing, but one that still has a chance to become what we want to be.”
Rodon brings a mixed record against the Orioles. Nine career appearances, eight starts, a 2-3 record and a 4.53 ERA across 43 and 2/3 innings.
Baltimore finding life through Alonso
The Orioles arrive in good form. Five wins in seven games, before Monday’s 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay. The bullpen coughed up a two-run lead in the seventh. Baltimore is still three games under .500, but shares the final wild-card spot with Texas and Detroit. Four more teams are sitting within two games.
The engine is Pete Alonso. The first baseman homered again on Monday. He is now two long balls away from a sixth straight 30-homer season. His 63 walks already top last year’s total of 61 in 162 games. Named American League Player of the Week, he becomes the only player in the majors to win that honour in five straight seasons. Over his last eight games, he’s hitting .567 with five homers and 10 RBIs.
Shane Baz will start for Baltimore. The right-hander has not won in more than two months. Over his last 10 starts, he is 0-6 despite a 3.92 ERA. Against the Yankees, his career line drops to 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in seven starts.
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