Yankees continue to roll, while two All-Star reinforcements get ready

Rockleigh NJ. Rockleigh Country Club. Fundraiser run by Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Left to right, Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, and Yankees manager Joe Torre

Apr 20, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Longtime Yankee announcer John Sterling is honored during a pregame ceremony in recognition of his retirement before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

John Sterling, Edgewater, NJ resident and the voice of the Yankees on radio on Aug. 17, 2012 in Bronx, New York.

Apr 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles honor New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling before the game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

John Sterling, Edgewater, NJ resident and the voice of the Yankees on radio on Aug. 17, 2012 in Bronx, New York.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

John Sterling, Edgewater, NJ resident and the voice of the Yankees on radio on Aug. 17, 2012 in Bronx, New York.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

Longtime Yankee announcer John Sterling is honored during a pregame ceremony in recognition of his retirement before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 20, 2024.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

Yankees' legendary broadcaster John Sterling.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

Rockleigh NJ. Rockleigh Country Club. Fundraiser run by Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Left to right, Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, and Yankees manager Joe Torre

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

Apr 20, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Longtime Yankee announcer John Sterling is honored during a pregame ceremony in recognition of his retirement before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

John Sterling, Edgewater, NJ resident and the voice of the Yankees on radio on Aug. 17, 2012 in Bronx, New York.

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John Sterling, former New York Yankees broadcaster, through the years

Apr 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles honor New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling before the game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Boone said the plan is to activate Rodon, who tossed 83 pitches across 6.1 innings on Tuesday night for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

And the veteran lefty – coming back from October surgery to remove loose bodies near his pitching elbow - is due to replace rookie Elmer Rodriguez, optioned back to Triple-A following Tuesday night’s start at Yankee Stadium.

Also on Tuesday night, ace right-hander Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery recovery) moved a bit closer to the Bronx with a 69-pitch, 4.1-inning rehab start at Class A Hudson Valley.

Cole’s exact return date to the Yanks’ rotation is undefined, but if he’s even three rehab starts away, that still puts him in play later this month.

And that could push a healthy starter like Ryan Weathers to the bullpen, potentially helping to strengthen what was believed to be the Yankees’ most vulnerable area.

On Tuesday night, a chain of four Yankees relievers stitched together 4.1 innings of one-run pitching, ending with David Bednar’s five-out save.

“Everybody picking each other up,’’ Bednar said of the “next man up mentality’’ of a bullpen that stranded each of its eight inherited runners Tuesday night.

That’s just the second time the Yanks have accomplished the feat during the Expansion Era (since 1961), and their relief corps has posted a 2.34 ERA over its last 17 games (50 innings).

Boone said he was dealing with a taxed bullpen to start Tuesday night, and he had to get Ryan Yarbrough (who did not pitch) warming up during a three-run first inning against Rodriguez.

But in his second MLB start (both against the Rangers), Rodriguez held serve, and handed off to lefty Brent Headrick, who got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam to keep it a 3-3 game in the fifth.

As valuable a weapon as they’ve had in the ‘pen, Headrick retired all four batters he faced Tuesday – three on strikeouts – and continued his MLB-best streak of not allowing any of his 13 inherited runners to score.

Yankees' comeback vs. Jacob deGrom

May 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Boosted by their bullpen, the Yanks were able to completely overcome a 3-0 deficit against Jacob deGrom (2.01 ERA entering Tuesday, coming off a sharp six-inning effort vs. the Yanks last week).

It was back-to-back doubles by Aaron Judge and the red-hot Cody Bellinger – who missed a homer by inches - in the first.

It was a two-run homer by the rallying Ryan McMahon (batting .325 over his last 12 games) in the second.

And it was Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s tie-breaking homer in the sixth off deGrom, punctuated by a dramatic bat flip, that boosted the Yanks toward their AL-best 25th win in 36 games this year.

“The positivity in the clubhouse right now is just super crazy,’’ said Chisholm, who watched the Rangers intentionally walk Judge to load the bases in the seventh…

…only to set up a lefty-lefty matchup vs. Bellinger, who continued to defy such strategy by stroking a two-run double against Jalen Beeks.

Paul Goldschmidt added a solo home run in the eighth, and maybe by Thursday's series finale, they'll have Ben Rice (left hand contusion) back at first base.

"(We're a) fairly confident group that's playing really well,'' said Bednar, and soon there'll probably be a couple of All-Star additions in Rodon and Cole.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees continue to roll, while two All-Star reinforcements get ready