The Yankees are taking a bit of a gamble with their choice for Game 2 of the World Series, opting to start left-hander Carlos Rodon at Dodger Stadium. According to Jon Heyman of the *New York Post*, the Yankees announced on Thursday that Rodon would take the mound on Saturday, following ace Gerrit Cole, who starts Game 1 on Friday. Clarke Schmidt, meanwhile, is slated to pitch Game 3 on Monday when the series moves to New York.
Starting Rodon in Game 2 is risky, particularly given his performance disparities between home and away games this season. Rodon posted a strong 3.11 ERA at Yankee Stadium but struggled on the road with a 4.69 ERA. Schmidt, on the other hand, performed far better on the road, recording a stellar 1.39 ERA compared to a 4.50 ERA at home. This makes the decision to start Rodon on the road and Schmidt at home somewhat surprising.
The Yankees may believe that Rodon, a seasoned two-time All-Star, is more suited to handle the pressure of a road game in the World Series. Additionally, the rotation choice of Cole, Rodon, and Schmidt gives the Yankees a righty-lefty-righty setup, potentially disrupting the rhythm of the Dodgers’ lineup. Still, the Yankees are committing to this plan and are also expected to get additional rotation support later in the series.
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