The Yankees’ pitching staff took a massive hit before the season, but with the postseason looming, their top two arms have made for a tough decision. Just three weeks before Opening Day, New York revealed that their ace, Gerrit Cole<\/a>, would miss all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. While this news didn\u2019t end the Yankees\u2019 season outright, it certainly put a damper on it. The defending American League champs, already reeling from the departure of outfielder Juan Soto<\/a> to the New York Mets<\/a>, would now be without their best pitcher, too.<\/p>\n Thankfully, the Yankees had one saving grace: an already deep rotation. After a rough first year in the Bronx, southpaw Carlos Rodon<\/a> returned to form in 2024 with 16 wins and a 3.96 ERA. Luis Gil<\/a>, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, was back for his second full season in the Bronx. Headlining this depth, however? Former Atlanta Braves<\/a> ace Max Fried<\/a>. Signed for a lefty record of $218 million in the offseason, Fried seemed primed to step in as Gerrit Cole\u2019s replacement. And for the first three months, Fried and his 1.92 ERA were worth every penny. Unfortunately, once the calendar flipped to July, the going got rough. In July and August, Fried pitched to a 5.40 ERA with 21 walks. Still, his ERA sits at just 3.06, and his 14 wins are the second most in baseball.<\/p>\n Rodon, on the other hand, has had a much more consistent season. His ERA hasn\u2019t risen above 4.24 in a single month, and he\u2019s consistently pitched close to his season average of 3.24. His 172 punchouts are the 11th most in the league, and his WHIP of 1.07 is the 13th-best mark in MLB. Like Fried, he also has 14 wins to his name. So, with two plausible game one starters, who should the Yankees put on the bump first come October?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with Fried. When it comes to the 2021 World Series champion, there\u2019s much more of a high-risk, high-reward element in play. In his past two starts, Fried has pitched 13 innings of one-run baseball, so there\u2019s a good chance that\u2019s what New York gets. On the other hand, Fried giving up six or more earned runs is entirely possible. For example, in June, he gave up six earned runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, a team that epitomizes postseason material.<\/p>\n So, what might give Fried the edge? Two words: postseason experience. Fried made 20 postseason appearances with Atlanta, and while he did post a 2-5 record with a 5.10 ERA, he also came through under the bright lights. In game one of the 2020 National League Wild Card, Fried pitched seven innings of shutout baseball. That set the tone for Atlanta and gave them a 1-0 lead in the series. Then in game seven of the 2021 World Series, Fried pitched six innings of shutout baseball, propelling the Braves to a 7-0 victory. So, while he\u2019s certainly had his share of postseason struggles, he\u2019s come through when it\u2019s mattered.<\/p>\n Rodon, unlike Fried, has little postseason experience. Across 10 full seasons, Rodon has made just six playoff starts, four of which came last year with New York. His ERA of 6.64 in October also doesn\u2019t inspire much confidence. Combine these two, and it\u2019s hard to imagine him being the game one starter for New York. But with a full postseason now under his belt, as well as another productive regular season, should Rodon get the nod?<\/p>\n Despite Fried\u2019s up-and-down season, the answer is obvious. The Yankees shelled out $218 million for Fried, and they would be foolish not to let him start game one. His postseason track record certainly isn\u2019t immaculate, but he\u2019s come through under pressure time and time again. Rodon makes for a solid number two, but Fried is the Yankees\u2019 unquestioned ace.<\/p>\n Main Photo:Why Fried<\/h2>\n
A Case for Rodon<\/h2>\n
The Decision<\/h2>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>