While the big news from last night’s World Series game was the shoulder injury suffered by Shohei Ohtani, he wasn’t the only player dealing with an ailment during yesterday’s game. As noted by SNY’s Andy Martino last night, Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon was pitching through a blister on one of his fingers during his start last night, which saw him surrender four runs on six hits as he struck out three in 3 1/3 innings of work.
Blister issues can cause problems with a pitcher’s grip on certain pitches. In the regular season, it’s not uncommon for a pitcher dealing with a blister to be sidelined for a short trip to the injured list until a blister fades and they can resume pitching unimpeded, but Rodon downplayed the seriousness of the issue to Martino last night as he suggested the blister was “not a big deal” and that it won’t impact his availability going forward in the World Series as the Yankees look to fight their way back from an 0-2 deficit. Rodon went on to note that he’s dealt with blister problems before in his career, though this is the first time he’s had one this year.
Overall, Rodon’s sophomore season with the Yankees has been a bit of a mixed bag. The southpaw posted a decent 3.96 ERA (104 ERA+) and struck out 26.5% of opponents while making 32 starts, but he also surrendered a career-high 31 homers and has struggled to this point in the postseason. In 17 2/3 innings of work across four postseason starts, Rodon has struggled to a 5.60 ERA overall, albeit with two strong performances against Cleveland in the ALCS that saw him strike out 15 of the 41 batters he faced. Fans in New York are surely hoping that they’ll get that version of Rodon in Game 6 if the series if the series makes it back to Los Angeles, though for now the team will have to focus on breaking through for their first win of the series.
More notes from the postseason…
- Rodon isnt the only starter who’s been dealing with a day-to-day injury in this series, as Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty dealt with some hamstring tightness during his start in Game 1 of the World Series, according to manager Dave Roberts. As relayed by the Los Angeles Times’s Mike DiGiovanna, Roberts does not believe the issue to be a serious one. That’s good news for the Dodgers, as the club’s injury-plagued rotation would have few options to replace Flaherty if he were to go down. The right-hander struggled through the division series against the Padres and the championship series against the Mets but looked quite good in his start against the Yankees as he struck out six in 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Flaherty is next expected to take the ball in a potential Game 5 on Wednesday, following tomorrow’s start by Walker Buehler and a bullpen game on Tuesday.
- Flaherty’s opponent in the series is expected to be Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, and Martino reports that the Yankees currently intend to keep it that way as the club “has not considered” the possibility of starting Cole on short rest in Game 4 of the series if the Yankees are facing elimination. While Martino adds the possibility cannot be completely ruled out, it would be a major departure from the way Cole has been utilized throughout his career. The 34-year-old righty has pitched on short rest only once before in his career, during the 2020 ALDS against the Rays, and while he was effective in that start the Yankees may be less willing to risk his health now that Cole half a decade older and wrapping up a season that saw him miss half the year due to elbow troubles.
- Turning back to the Dodgers, right-hander Evan Phillips was left off the club’s World Series roster amid a number of nagging ailments including arm fatigue as well as tightness in his lat, triceps, and biceps. Phillips discussed his situation with DiGiovanna in more detail yesterday, noting that an MRI revealed nerve irritation in his right shoulder. Phillips described the issue as “nothing majorly concerning,” however, and suggested that the decision to leave him off the roster primarily had to do with the fact that the Dodgers wouldn’t be allowed to replace him if he were to more seriously injure himself since he was already injured before the series began. Phillips hasn’t ruled out the possibility he could be added to the roster if another pitcher is injured, though Roberts has previously suggested veteran righty Joe Kelly might be first in line as an injury replacement.
Old York
Doesn’t look good for the Yankees. No offense and history isn’t on their side. Teams that go up 2-0 have won 77 of 92 series. Their offense better show up soon.
mlbnyyfan
The Captain better show up soon. Let’s go Yankees in 7.
ohyeadam
Starting to wonder if taking that chest shot in the last game against Cleveland hurt a lot more than we’ve been told. Not a bleep about it…
TheTrotsky
They got a good chance with Buehler and the bullpen game that might wipe out their relievers. Just gotta show up and hit.
steven st croix
This is the effort the Yankees put out after finally not losing to the Astros? Boone and Cashman are clowns.
dodgerblue58
As a Dodger fan I think you’re overreacting. Yanks were the number one seed in the east. The WS (heck, the entire tournament) is a crapshoot. Just ask the Dodgers. This series is not over unless LA wins game three.
letitbelowenstein
If, hypothetically, Boone got canned after the series, he’d have five or six offers within 72 hours.
Eric Henderson
Real Dodger fans are happy because now the Dodgers can show that they can win the World Series without Ohtani (who was 1 for 9 to go along with a failed stolen base attempt)
The failed stolen base was either a selfish stat padding attempt by Ohtani in a moment where it was completely uncalled for or it was a very stupid managerial decision. More likely it was Ohtani’s decision.
CKinSTL
They were only up 3 runs and about to go up against the heart of NY’s lineup..
Fever Pitch Guy
CK – Exactly! Why would he pad his stats anyway? To get a 3-year extension after his 10-year deal ends?
And the Dodgers already won a WS without him 4 years ago, although granted it wasn’t a legit WS.
RunDMC
…trying to pad the stats to renegotiate that deferred money sooner than when his grandchildren will benefit from it. Patience is a virtue, but interest compounds, and he’s had some time to do the math.
VinScullysSon
I’ve seen you post this same comment three times. What a weird take and how many more times will you repost?
fred-3
This place just losses their ever loving mind whenever talking about Ohtani
JoeBrady
This is one of the stupidest posts ever in MLB-R. A guy that was 59/64 in SBs this year, on 1st with 2 outs? That is an automatic steal attempt.
jerseyjohn
I don’t like my elite hitters running as much as Ohtani did this year. It’s one of the most dangerous things you can do on the diamond. Looks great for the stat line but if he ends up needing shoulder surgery all the steals in the world won’t be worth it.
Blackpink in the area
Real Dodgers fans?
dodgerblue58
I don’t think it was necessary for him to steal. It was likely his own call and very unfortunate. But he stole what like 55 bases during the season without any injuries? Don’t was just unfortunate. That’s baseball.
TerryTurnbuckle
Thank god the series is moving out of LA. Shameful the way the Dodgers gave a platform to the outspoken anti police, criminal Ice Cube. His ties to the 111 Neighborhood Crips are well documented but somehow praised in Los Angeles.
fred-3
Ice Cube, like everyone else in NWA besides Eazy E, was a studio gangster
chemfinancing
It’s a flipsy cripsy USA
TerryTurnbuckle
Waiting till game 7 to roll out American Hero and Martha Stewart‘s BFF who has felonies, tried for murder, was part of the Crips, former pimp, and all around LA scumbag Snoop Dog.
Blackpink in the area
Dude you need help
Suitcase Simpson
ice cube has 0 felonies, he is alright
West Coast Ryan”s Intellectual Takes
Rodon pitched bad
Hur dur
Badfinger
I can’t stand watching Rodon pitch. One little thing goes wrong and he has a meltdown. If he can’t control his emotions this far into his career he’ll probably never control them.
chemfinancing
Oh Jack Flaherty is hurt go figure. I remember the Yanks veered from Flaherty at the deadline and I think made public their doubts on his health. With all that being said the dodgers were the ones that paid up and are going to win a WS because of it. Makes me wonder what the Tigers were asking from Yanks I bet it was something not even as good as Sweeney incompetent Yankees can’t get out of their own way
OhioDodger
Please, no Guano Joe Kelly.
Blackpink in the area
As a Cardinal fan I saw Chris Carpenter man up and dominate in both the 2006 and 2011 postseason. After 2006 he was hurt and missed all of 2007, one of only 2 losing seasons the Cardinals have had in the last 20 years. After 2011 his career was basically over.
My point is flags fly forever. If you asked Carpenter if he would do it all over again I already know what the answer would be.
olmtiant
Series if far from over… ( as much as it pains me to say).. it’s not like the dodgers have Sandy/ Don/Orel etc lined up to close it out.. both games could have went either way, with a clutch hit here or there… Yanks win game three.. does 2 things..1 gets them back it series of course and 2 eliminates the only chance they will ever have to wash out what happened 20 years ago….( abide it wouldn’t be against Boston)
Rocker49
I forgot that Joe Karen Kelly was still around, hard to pitch when all you do is cry.