The New York Yankees announced Monday that left-hander Carlos Rodón will start Tuesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. Rodón, who has been on the injured list with left elbow inflammation, has not pitched for the Yankees since June 28.
Will Warren was initially expected to start Tuesday’s game, and it is unclear if the Yankees will push everyone in the rotation back one day or if the right-hander will move to the bullpen. It is expected that Rodón will be on a pitch count on Tuesday, having thrown just 58 pitches during his last rehab start. It’s possible the Yankees could use Warren as a piggyback option for Rodón out of the bullpen. The likeliest move for the Yankees to make room for Rodón on the 26-man roster is to option reliever Bradley Hanner back to the minors.
With Rodón back in the majors, the Yankees rotation is at full strength. That means the Yankees could start transitioning Warren to the bullpen. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake told The Athletic last week that Warren and Ryan Weathers were the likeliest candidates to move to the bullpen once Rodón returned. Weathers has been one of MLB’s best starters over the last month, while Warren has struggled.
Since the Yankees won’t need six starting pitchers in October, the club could begin lessening the number of pitches Warren throws in each outing to prepare him for bullpen use in the postseason. Their bullpen has exceeded expectations, but there are still a few weak spots that could be improved ahead of October. Warren, who has struggled to maintain his velocity deep into his starts, could potentially excel in a shorter role out of the bullpen that will allow his fastball and sweeper combo to play off each other.
Rodón is one of several high-profile Yankees expected back off the injured list in the coming weeks. Cody Bellinger will begin a rehab assignment this weekend, and the expectation is he could rejoin the Yankees next week. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge continue to make progress from their respective injuries, but it’s still unclear when they’ll return.
