Since Carlos Rodón joined the Yankees, Andy Pettitte has guided his fellow left-hander through a sometimes rocky first three seasons.
In Game 3, the Yankees hope for Rodón to emulate Pettitte’s successful postseason performances to salvage their season, as they trail 2-0 to Toronto in the best-of-five ALDS at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
“It all starts with Carlos on the mound,” Pettitte said Monday before a light Yankee workout in The Bronx. “We all know games like this hinge on pitching. Sure, we need to score runs, but it begins with Carlos.”
Rodón was in a similar spot in the wild-card round against Boston after the Yankees dropped the first game of that series.
Though he wasn’t at his peak, Rodón positioned the Yankees to win that crucial game, which allowed them to advance in three games.
They face even more of a challenge now, needing three straight wins to get by the Blue Jays and into the ALCS.
“I think he’s ready,” Pettitte noted. “He experienced something similar recently and performed excellently; he’s been here before. In these games, you try to simplify, manage your emotions, and make key pitches. It’s like any other game, but you know the stakes.”
Rodón has been inconsistent in the playoffs as a Yankee, with a 5.32 ERA over 23 ²/₃ innings in five playoff starts.
The Yankees have won three of those games.
However, following back-to-back tough starts from Luis Gil in Game 1 and Max Fried in Game 2 at Rogers Centre, they need significantly more from Rodón, who’s pitched at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs in 11 consecutive starts — including against Boston.
That’s why Aaron Boone said he had “a ton” of confidence in Rodón heading into Tuesday.
“He’s obviously been one of our mainstays this year,” Boone said. “He’s had a fantastic year, and whenever he’s on the mound, we feel confident in our chances to win. That sentiment holds true [Tuesday].”
Rodón was OK in a pair of starts against the Blue Jays this season — pitching to a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings with both starts coming in Toronto — but Vlad Guerrero Jr., who killed the Yankees in the first two games of this series, has been a menace against Rodón, going 10-for-17 with three doubles and a homer.
Still, his teammates know he won’t back down from the challenge.
“Every time he’s on the mound, full confidence in him,’’ Cody Bellinger said. “I just love who he is as a competitor.”
