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.
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.
The Captain better show up soon. Let’s go Yankees in 7.
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…
They got a good chance with Buehler and the bullpen game that might wipe out their relievers. Just gotta show up and hit.
This is the effort the Yankees put out after finally not losing to the Astros? Boone and Cashman are clowns.
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.
If, hypothetically, Boone got canned after the series, he’d have five or six offers within 72 hours.
Lmfao!!! You’re joking right? Boone has ZERO baseball acumen! He is an announcer and belongs in the booth before he got the Yankee job.
“Boone got canned”…Boone’s not a terrible manager in my opinion, but he’s certainly not a difference maker in any way. He’s fairly average in my honest opinion. His record, on a $300M+ payroll team, is really not that impressive, considering the Yankee’s obvious payroll advantage against other AL teams..
The Yankees make the playoffs every year(regardless of mgr)and could make the ALCS with a MLB baseball app running the team. I can’t see many teams rushing towards Boone if he were available.
Comedy, surely ?
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.
They were only up 3 runs and about to go up against the heart of NY’s lineup..
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.
…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.
He’s also looking at the tax advantages of deferring that income.
Run, I can’t say that I know this but, since the 700 number was much more than was being talked about, I’d say the time value of money was factored in at the time by getting 700 with deferrals instead of say, 600 or 650 with no deferrals.
I’m not running calculations but I’m saying, Ohtani did and he knows the actual amounts of his offers, possibly Toronto had highest “right now” dollars and it was reported this contract was his idea so, he probably did the math and pitched the deal, a deal too good to refuse, to the Dodgers.
Just my thinking believing Ohtani and his team have computer programs and high levels of financial thinking.
Run – His contract is worth $460M NPV and he wanted it deferred because a) He makes approx $50M annually in endorsements and b) there’s huge tax benefits for waiting 10 years and then spreading it over the following decade.
Ohtani has the best financial advisors, it’s not like his money is just sitting in bank accounts with nobody monitoring it or putting it to use ;o)
I’ve seen you post this same comment three times. What a weird take and how many more times will you repost?
This place just losses their ever loving mind whenever talking about Ohtani
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.
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.
Well, he slides feet first all the time which is much safer, but putting that left arm down to slow his slide brings more risk in. Got him this time, let’s hope there’s no labrum tear.
And to be fair, his sb led to more runs this season for a lineup that was without Betts for two months.
Ma4170, agree steals can be a value add and feet first is “safer”. I still don’t want my superstar hitter running wild. I have a similar view on elite hitting catchers. Harper was moved from the dish because his bat was deemed to special to risk there. Piazza was left there basically his whole career and I disagreed with that decision.
Would you move Adley now? I know he’s great defensively, but they have Basallo excelling in the minors.
Jason Kendall would have been a 90 WAR 2nd Baseman.
jerseyjohn
I don’t like my elite hitters running as much as Ohtani
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I actually don’t place much value on SBs at all. Under 75% is probably a negative result. But with two outs, and playing in the WS, you have to run.
I’m not sure his ceiling. If he stays at this level of hitter I’d keep him as a highly valuable catcher. If he has another gear I’d consider getting him out from behind the plate. I’d put a hitter who has a career like Jorge Posada as the over under line for catcher. Posada and under super valuable catcher, over and you’re wasting a stud offensive player at a position with tons of injuries and a guaranteed 40 days off per year.
JoeBrady agreed if you’re below 75% succes rate running is a bad move. The Ohtani steal wasn’t a terrible move but led to a terrible result. I still stand on my statement that I don’t want a hitter that special attempting 50+ steals any year.
Real Dodgers fans?
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.
Blue – It’s silly to think a 3-run lead is safe against the Yankees. And it’s not like the Dodgers bullpen is lights out.
Rodon pitched bad
Hur dur
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.
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
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.
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)
I forgot that Joe Karen Kelly was still around, hard to pitch when all you do is cry.
@Chem. Tigers probably wanted Pereza or Arias from the Yankees. Dodgers gave up Sweeny because they were desperate during the deadlines final minutes. Either way Yankees did nothing of any significance at the deadline. Yankees probably could have gotten possibly Skubal for Jones. However I guess Yankees keeping Jones or Dominez because they probably feel like Soto is not coming back.
He played a little better in September, but Jones is a strikeout machine. I’d be shocked if Jones was close to getting Skubal. I’d guess you’d need someone in the top-10.
The Blake Treinen wreck is gonna give me a heart attack, He’s as bad as the Astros’ Hader and Pressly. How do these losers keep getting contracts?
Dodgers in 4! Not an overpowering sweep, but they’ll have lots of help from the Yankee Analytical staff, Cashman, and Boone! Yanks got lucky as the rest of the American League just rolled over with injuries this season.
Looking for a little help…Trying to find the Gleyber game, this season I beleive/ he failed to go afte a ground ball hit between him and 1b.. Not a Yankee fan just trying to find the video.