BREAKING: Yankees’ $162 million collapsing after red-hot start
The New York Yankees are experiencing a tough period, having dropped six of their last seven series, highlighted by a recent heavy defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. As the All-Star break approaches in about three weeks, it’s evident that their pitching and offense have been underperforming.
Collapse of the Yankees’ Starting Rotation
Yet, the Yankees face a more urgent problem with their starting rotation, which is crumbling not from injuries but due to poor performance. Carlos Rodon, their high-profile $162 million pitching addition in 2023, is undergoing a stark decline this season. Despite starting with an ERA near 3.00 entering June, Rodon’s effectiveness has sharply diminished since then.
Carlos Rodon’s Alarming Deterioration
As of now, Rodon’s statistics paint a troubling picture: he holds a 4.42 ERA, a 4.54 FIP, and records 8.84 strikeouts per nine innings. His left-on-base rate of 75.5% and ground ball rate of 35% are worrisome, compounded by allowing 1.54 home runs per nine innings—a figure he hasn’t surpassed since 2017. His recent struggles are particularly evident in his last three starts, where he’s surrendered 20 earned runs, including five home runs, across 13.2 innings.
In essence, Rodon has recently been among the least effective starting pitchers in baseball, and his downturn cannot be attributed to injury. His confidence appears shaken, evident from his visible frustration in the dugout after poor outings. His performance metrics have plummeted to concerning levels, with an xERA in the 25th percentile at 4.65, ranking in the 11th percentile in barrel rate, and in the 16th percentile in hard-hit rate.
Analyzing Rodon’s Pitching Woes
Opposing batters are not just making contact against Rodon but are also slugging effectively. His four-seam fastball, which he relies on 50.7% of the time, is generating a .290 expected batting average and a .608 expected slugging percentage. Despite maintaining respectable velocity, his fastball has become problematic, potentially due to increased horizontal movement that causes it to drift back into the strike zone.
Broader Pitching Issues Beyond Rodon
Rodon isn’t the sole struggling pitcher for the Yankees; Gerrit Cole continues to battle rebounding from a nerve injury in his elbow, Nestor Cortes has shown volatility and is regressing, and Luis Gil, despite holding a 3.15 ERA currently, has recently seen an uptick from around 2.00 over the past couple of months.
Looking Ahead: Yankees’ Trade Deadline and Recovery Hopes
The Yankees were inevitably bound for significant regression across their rotation, though few anticipated it happening all at once. The hope now is that the team can weather this rough stretch and begin to rack up wins leading up to the All-Star break. General manager Brian Cashman faces the task of being proactive at the trade deadline, but above all, he needs his current roster to step up and rediscover their top form.