Yankees go with Rodon to start Game 2 of ALDS
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Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff Writer
NEW YORK — As expected, the New York Yankees on Wednesday named Carlos Rodon their starting pitcher for Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday against either the Kansas City Royals or Baltimore Orioles. Their Game 3 starter, however, remains undecided, pitching coach Matt Blake said in a video call with reporters.
The choices for Game 3, which is scheduled for next Wednesday, are Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. Blake said the club could choose between the two pitchers before the series starts Saturday, but the decision “likely” will be made after Game 1 to give the Yankees the option to use either pitcher out of the bullpen.
“Just seeing how many of the pen guys we use, what that looks like,” Blake said. “If we go to extras or something, just having some flexibility for that game.”
Gil was a revelation for the Yankees during their 94-win regular season. Optioned to the minors during spring training, he began the season on the roster only after Gerrit Cole was shut down with an elbow injury and never relinquished his spot in the rotation.
The 26-year-old right-hander finished the season 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 151⅔ innings across 29 starts, placing himself atop the list of AL Rookie of the Year contenders after totaling four innings in Single-A in 2023 coming off Tommy John surgery. Schmidt was better when healthy this season, posting a 2.85 ERA in 85.1 innings over 16 starts around a three-month stint on the injured list with a strained lat muscle.
But, unlike Gil, Schmidt has extensive experience as a reliever. The right-hander has 30 career relief appearances, including 26 in 2022 when he pitched to a 3.12 ERA over 57⅔ innings. Gil has never pitched out of the bullpen as a major leaguer and led the majors in walks this season, which could further deter the Yankees from using him as a reliever for his postseason debut.
“Definitely a concern, something we haven’t done with him up to this point,” Blake said. “So definitely some unknown involved with that and that’s part of the conversation about why we might use Clarke and him in different roles. Obviously, we know Clarke’s done it in the past so there’s some definite unknown with what Luis would look like in the pen. Obviously, some really high upside if it does click there but part of the conversation.”
Cole, the Game 1 starter, would start Game 4 on regular rest — if a Game 4 is necessary. Rodon would then be available for Game 5, if necessary, on regular rest.
Rodon enjoyed a bounce-back campaign after a nightmare, injury-riddled debut season in New York in 2023. The left-hander, after posting a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts and regularly hearing boos from fans last season, advanced from a strict fastball-slider mix to better incorporate his curveball and changeup into his arsenal this season. The result: a 3.96 ERA over a team-high 175 innings. More importantly, he avoided the injured list and made 32 starts.
“I just think that the mental growth we’ve seen of just understanding who he is, understanding who he can be going forward,” Blake said. “And then just seeing how the league’s adjusting to him, I think he’s done a really nice job of just continuing to evolve.”
He’ll get the ball in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium.
Knight’s Choice has won the 2024 Melbourne Cup, defeating Warp Speed and Okita Soushi in a thrilling finish at Flemington on Tuesday afternoon.
The massive outsider saluted for Irish-born jockey Robbie Dolan, who claimed victory in what was his first ever ride in the “race that stops a nation”.
In what was a gripping 164th staging of Australia’s most-watched thoroughbred race, Knight’s Choice proved too strong in a sprint to the finish, pulling over the top of Okita Soushi and holding off Warp Speed by the barest of margins.
Trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon on the Sunshine Coast, Knight’s Choice was well down the betting across all markets. It was Laxon’s second Melbourne Cup triumph after she trained Ethereal to victory 23 years ago.
“This is the pinnacle of all pinnacles, this is the Melbourne Cup,” Symons said.
Zardozi rounded out the first four.
As the field approached the final few hundred metres it appeared as though Jamie Kah, aboard Okita Soushi, would become just the second woman to ride the winner in the Melbourne Cup. But Okita Soushi was swallowed up as the winning post neared, with Knight’s Choice beating Warp Speed to the line after a peach of a ride from Dolan.
“We’ll be singing tonight after a few beers,” Dolan, who was a contestant on the 2022 edition of “The Voice”, told Channel 9.
“It is amazing and a lot of people doubted this little horse. Doubt me now.”
Laxon was more than happy with the ride, with Dolan threading his way through the field from near last on the bend.
“He started the race, and he knew how to ride him. We didn’t give him instructions, he knew what to do,” she said.
“I love it being down for the Australians. The Australian horse has done it, and Robbie is Australian now as well, so I’m thrilled to win the Cup, and it is the people’s Cup, and that’s what it is all about.”
Knight’s Choice is just the sixth Australian-bred horse to win since 1993, and the first since Vow and Declare back in 2019.
The five-year-old gelding carried only 51kg to victory and was making its first start over the 3200m trip. It had most recently come off a fifth-placed finish in the Bendigo Cup, but had showed sparing little form this preparation otherwise.
“I watched every Melbourne Cup for the last 40 years. I thought my best chance was to get him to stay the trip and, hopefully, he can run home and do the quick sectionals he can on a good track and he proved everybody wrong,” Dolan said.
MILWAUKEE — The Brewers‘ starting rotation could have a new look next season with right-handers Frankie Montas and Colin Rea heading into free agency.
The Brewers announced Monday that Montas had declined his part of a $20 million mutual option for 2025. The Brewers turned down the $5.5 million club option on Rea’s contract.
Montas receives a $2 million buyout and Rea gets a $1 million buyout.
In other moves Monday, right-hander Kevin Herget was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, and left-hander Rob Zastryzny was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. First baseman Jake Bauers and right-hander Bryse Wilson cleared waivers and were sent outright to Triple-A Nashville.
Montas, 31, had a combined 7-11 record with a 4.84 ERA and 148 strikeouts over 150⅔ innings in 30 starts for the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers this season. He was 3-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 11 starts for the Brewers, who acquired him just before the trade deadline.
Rea, 34, was 12-6 with a 4.28 ERA this season in 32 appearances, including 27 starts. He struck out 135 in 167⅔ innings. Rea had an 8.31 ERA in September and was left off the Brewers’ NL Wild Card Series roster.
Herget, 33, had no record with one save and a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances with Milwaukee this year. He was 5-1 with four saves and a 2.27 ERA in 38 relief outings with Triple-A Nashville.
Zastryzny, 32, was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances with Milwaukee. He pitched in 30 games with Nashville and went 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA.
The 29-year-old Bauers batted .199 with a .301 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games this season. He also hit a seventh-inning homer that broke a scoreless tie in the decisive Game 3 of the Wild Card Series with the Mets, who rallied in the ninth to win 4-2.
Wilson, who turns 27 on Dec. 20, went 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 34 appearances, including nine starts.
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