New York Chooses Carlos Rodon for ALCS Opener, Gerrit Cole for Second Game

The New York Yankees will be sending southpaw Carlos Rodon to the mound on Monday for the first game of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, who will be visiting.

Yankees' top pitcher Gerrit Cole, who secured the win in Game 4 of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, is scheduled to start Game 2 on Tuesday in New York.

Rodon will have the advantage of extra rest after his loss in Game 2 of the ALDS last Monday. In his initial postseason start with the Yankees, he threw three scoreless innings before the Royals took control and scored four runs in the fourth.

\"I'm sure there are many things he can take away from that game and hopefully apply them in the future,\" stated Yankees' manager Aaron Boone.

During the regular season, Rodon had a record of 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 32 games, all of which he started.

Clark Schmidt is expected to start Game 3 when the series moves to Cleveland on Thursday, followed by Luis Gil in Game 4 on Friday. Gil, who did not pitch in the ALDS, was scheduled to participate in a simulated game on Sunday, according to Boone.

After having 11 pitchers on the ALDS roster, Boone mentioned that they will likely add one or two more pitchers for the series against the Guardians. This means that Marcus Stroman could potentially make the ALCS roster after sitting out the ALDS.

Boone confirmed that Alex Verdugo will remain the starting left fielder and if he is active, rookie Jasson Dominguez will be used as a reserve.

Anthony Rizzo did not play in the ALDS due to fracturing two fingers on his right hand towards the end of the season, but he may be added to the ALCS roster on Monday.

\"Rizzo hasn't been doing much physically, in terms of baseball activities,\" Boone explained. \"He's been focusing on letting his injury heal and receiving treatments.\"

Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti shared first base duties against the Royals.

Boone mentioned that DJ LeMahieu is \"doing pretty well\" after missing most of September with a right hip impingement and is working towards being ready to play in the postseason.

The Guardians have yet to announce their starting pitcher for Game 1.