Carlos Rodon Hits 1,500 Career Strikeouts, Nears 100th Win

The dominance held. Through 6 innings Rodon had faced the minimum, and it wasn't just that Tampa Bay couldn't hit him — the two balls they did put in play both turned into double plays, erasing the only real baserunners he allowed. Along the way he had a little back-and-forth with Jorge Mateo, who wasn't thrilled about a check-swing call on a backfoot slider.

Rob Friedman

@PitchingNinja

Carlos Rodón to Mateo after he complained about the check-swing call on his backfoot slider: "That’s a FULL swing" 🔊

The Yankees let him keep going. Rodon came back out for the 8th inning still sitting at just 89 pitches, with Paul Blackburn up in the bullpen behind him as insurance rather than a replacement. That's the leash a team gives a starter who's dealing, and it paid off.

Rob Friedman

@PitchingNinja

Carlos Rodón, Wicked 86mph Slider. 🤢 1500th Career K. 🍾

By the time he was done, Rodon had 8 scoreless innings and 8 strikeouts, pushing his career total to 1,500 and lining him up for his 100th career win whenever the Yankees close it out. It's a milestone that means a little more given how his year started — Rodon had offseason elbow surgery to clean out loose bodies and a bone spur, and didn't get back on a big-league mound until midseason. He's now 33, in year four of the six-year, $162 million deal he signed with New York in December 2022, and outings like this are exactly why the Yankees committed to that contract in the first place.

Bryan Hoch ⚾️

@BryanHoch

Carlos Rodon looked playoff-ready with 8 scoreless IP. He struck out eight, giving him 1,500 for his career, and is in line for his 100th career win.

For a team fighting to stay alive in a crowded AL East, getting this version of Rodon in late September is the best-case scenario. If he's pitching like this into October, the Yankees' path gets a lot easier to see.