Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Yankees’ Aaron Boone Makes Carlos Rodón Decision Before White Sox Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 12:19 PM ET

The New York Yankees were on the back foot before the season started, as ace pitcher Gerrit Cole announced he needed Tommy John surgery during Spring Training. The six-time All-Star won't pitch this year, but the Yankees lucked out in another regard.

Southpaws Max Fried (17-9, 2.91 ERA) and Carlos Rodón (18-5, 3.04 ERA) have been two of the best pitchers in baseball, ranking first and tied for second in wins, respectively. Additionally, Fried is 10th in ERA, 16th with a 1.11 WHIP, and tied for 19th with 182 strikeouts, while Rodón is 13th in ERA, 11th with a 1.06 WHIP and tied for ninth with 198 strikeouts.

Both pitchers are also hot at the right time, as Fried has a 2.05 ERA in September while Rodón has a 2.16 mark. New York manager Aaron Boone made a change involving the latter pitcher before Tuesday's bout with the Chicago White Sox, via Talkin' Yanks.

He changed the veteran's next outing from Friday to Thursday. This will put him on regular rest for that start and give him an extra day's rest for a potential Game 2 start in the AL Wild Card round, via The New York Daily News' Gary Phillips.

The Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays by two games atop the AL East with six left in the regular season, and the latter team would win a tiebreaker due to head-to-head record. That's why they need to prepare for a potential Wild Card appearance.

New York is also three games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the AL's first wild card spot. If the Yankees stay in that position, they will host the No. 2 wild card team in a best-of-three series.

Having Carlos Rodón start Thursday puts him on regular rest for that start & gives him an extra day’s rest for a potential Wild Card Game 2 start. #Yankees https://t.co/AdQga2vhaA
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) September 23, 2025

Yankees Have Chance to Catch Blue Jays

Although New York is preparing for the Wild Card round, it has the strength-of-schedule advantage over Toronto for the rest of the regular season. The Yankees will host the last-place White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, while the Blue Jays will host the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

In addition to Boston being a winning team, Tampa Bay is 76-80 while Chicago is 58-98 and Baltimore is 73-83. If New York sweeps its final six games, it would need Toronto to go 3-3 over that stretch to win the division title.

Right-handed pitcher Luis Gil (4-1, 3.33 ERA) will start for the Yankees against White Sox right-hander Shane Smith (6-8, 4.06 ERA) on Tuesday night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: