NEW YORK — Carlos Rodón, the left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, is set to take the mound for the opening game of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday evening.

In his second season with the Yankees, Rodón has bounced back to a record of 16 wins and 9 losses, along with a 3.96 ERA over 172 innings across 32 starts. He had initially signed a hefty six-year contract worth $162 million. However, his 2023 campaign was challenging, as he struggled with a career-low 6.85 ERA and a record of 3-8 during 14 games. Issues such as a strained left forearm and back stiffness delayed his season start, which only began on July 7.

The 31-year-old pitcher faced disappointment last week in Game 2 of the AL Division Series when he took the loss against the Kansas City Royals. Despite showcasing strong performance early on and keeping a shutout, he gave up a lead-off home run to Salvador Perez. This home run ignited a four-run inning for the Royals, with notable contributions from Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson, and Maikel Garcia, culminating in a 4-2 victory that leveled the best-of-five series.

Looking ahead, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start Game 2 on Tuesday, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting competition in the championship series.