Carlos Rodón returns to a very different Yankees rotation

Q: What were Carlos Rodón's stats in his return game for the Yankees?

In his return game against the Brewers, Carlos Rodón pitched 4.1 innings, allowing 3 runs and 2 hits while walking several batters.

Q: How has the Yankees' rotation changed since Carlos Rodón's absence?

The Yankees' rotation has significantly improved, featuring emerging talents like Cam Schllitler and Will Warren, making it different from when Rodón last played.

Q: What challenges did Carlos Rodón face during his comeback?

Rodón struggled with control, walking the leadoff batter in three of his first four innings and experiencing a drop in fastball velocity as the game progressed.

Q: What is the potential impact of Rodón's return on the Yankees' pitching staff?

Rodón's return could add pressure to perform, but the Yankees now have depth and alternatives in their rotation, potentially leading to a six-man rotation once Gerrit Cole returns.

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, May 10, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images While the Yankees didn’t get the result they wanted, falling in a one-run game against the Brewers, it was encouraging seeing Carlos Rodón back on a big league mound, regardless of the outcome. Rusty, as to be expected for someone coming from such a lengthy absence, Rodón battled himself on top of a dangerous Milwaukee lineup and held his own through plenty of traffic. The pitcher we have so often seen deliver worse results than the quality of his outings would indicate, due to untimely home runs, more than held his own by keeping the ball in the yard. Rodón covered 4.1 innings, allowing more runs (3) than hits (2) as the Yankees took a 4-3 loss in a quiet day offensively. Highlighting just how inefficient Rodón was, following a trend we’ve seen in his rehab outings, the left-hander walked the leadoff batter in three of his first four innings—the cardinal sin for a pitcher to do it once, much less in more than half of his innings. It wasn’t just the lack of long balls that prevented this from being a blow-up, as he only allowed a pair of hits. Velocity-wise, Rodón sat at 95.7 mph on his four-seam fastball, but it should be noted that the number drastically decreased from the 97.0 mph in the first to the 94.5 mph he showed in his final inning. In fact, the root of those walks came from poorly located fastballs that the Brewers kept laying off with a zone rate of 32 percent, well below league average and Rodón’s average as well. Assessing the bigger picture moving forward, this could be the beginning of a new era for Rodón with the Yankees—the rotation he returns to is one far different from the one he left behind. Not even in the wildest dreams of most fans could you have imagined what has transpired with the likes of Cam Schllitler and , particularly the former establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the sport. Even if you’re still cautious about the promising signs Warren has exhibited in 2026, we’ve always known the raw tools for a great pitcher were there, so it’s difficult not to be at least a tad excited. Evidently, it’s natural that Rodón will carry a lot of pressure on him to deliver in the most crucial moments, regardless of how the rotation shapes up around him, but we’re well off the role he was brought on to fulfill a few years ago, and that can only be a good thing. This is a rotation that’s at or near the top of the leaderboards in many categories, with none other than on his way back as well. The production has been so outstanding that one could even make the argument for a move to a six-man rotation based on merit once Cole is back, because it’s hard to justify booting from a starting role. Focusing on Rodón, it’s not even a question of pressure or hierarchy but an acknowledgment that he has his work cut out for him to regain his previous standing on this staff. Last season was the closest we’ve seen to the best version of Rodón, and maybe that’s the best he can do at this stage in his career. Either way, the inconsistencies of his first two seasons won’t cut it, and unlike in the past, the Yankees have alternatives, all thanks to an outstanding development system.