Carlos Rodon of the Yankees relies on his changeup to silence the Orioles

Baltimore — Carlos Rodon Shines in Yankees Victory

Carlos Rodon has certainly made a case this season for being more than just a two-pitch pitcher, and he really showcased that on Saturday.

As he nears the end of what’s arguably been his best year with the Yankees, Rodon relied heavily on a particularly effective changeup, leading to seven solid innings in a 6-1 win over the Orioles.

Interestingly, for the first time since 2018, Rodon’s most frequently used pitch wasn’t his signature four-seam fastball or slider. Instead, it was the changeup, which he threw 32 times out of 96 pitches, resulting in a remarkable 12 swings and misses, including three of his eight strikeouts.

“I really thought it was the game plan. The changeup worked as a great setup,” Rodon reflected. “I noticed the outer lane was open with the fastball, so I tried to create a tunnel effect with the changeup. I was fortunate to have a good day.”

Rodon seemed to follow in the footsteps of Max Fried, who had success with his changeup against the Orioles just a couple of nights prior.

The lefty gave up four hits—two of which were infield singles—and walked just one batter, with that walk leading to the only run allowed in the seventh inning.

“That changeup was something special,” said manager Aaron Boone. “You could definitely see the effective pitching on display. Toward the end of the game, he really relied on his sinker and four-seamer a bit more. Both the changeup and slider were exceptional tonight. He’s had a strong year, and this outing was a testament to that.”

Rodon earned his career-high 17th victory, lowering his ERA to 3.04 with this being his 32nd start of the season.

On a different note, Anthony Volpe had a solid game, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. This marked the third straight game where he’s reached base safely multiple times, a turnaround from the previous stretch of 67 games where he only managed that feat once.

Volpe’s recent performance is particularly impressive after he received a cortisone injection in his left shoulder, which seems to have worked wonders for his defense and overall play.

While there’s ongoing discussion about whether Volpe or José Caballero will earn a playoff spot with the Yankees, Volpe is certainly making his case. “I hope he’s finding his groove,” Boone added cautiously.

Aaron Judge started in right field for his third consecutive game since returning from a right elbow flexor strain. Boone mentioned that he plans to use Judge as a designated hitter on Sunday, likely resting Giancarlo Stanton.

“I feel he’s improving. He’s ready to go,” Boone said. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”

In other news, Elmer Rodriguez Cruz, one of the Yankees’ notable pitching prospects, made his Triple-A debut on Saturday. He struck out three batters over five innings but did allow four runs on eight hits.

This 22-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Red Sox last offseason in a trade that sent catcher Carlos Narvaez to Boston. Although he was set to pitch in the Double-A Somerset playoff series, he was eliminated after just two games.