Yankees' World Series 'advantage' goes up in flames with Carlos Rodón Game 2 start

Heading into the highly-anticipated New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers World Series, talking heads and analysts pinpointed one massive advantage the Bombers held over their opponents: a superior starting rotation that could provide length.

Gerrit Cole. Carlos Rodón. Clarke Schmidt. Luis Gil. And in case of an emergency, Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes exist. In theory, yes, this was an edge over Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler.

In practice? Not quite. Aaron Boone ruined that in Game 1 by taking out Gerrit Cole before he could finish a very manageable sixth inning. That resulted in a majority of the bullpen being used in an extra-innings loss. Absolutely cooked.

On Saturday night in Game 2, Carlos Rodón was on the hill going head-to-head with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It was the Yankees' second-best starter and lone left-hander who perhaps had the best chance of neutralizing Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy.

Though Rodón has had his fair share of blowups, this year he looked different. He was able to provide length. He was able to put together shutout performances that made fans think he'd be a weapon in October.

But outside of his ALCS Game 1 start against the Cleveland Guardians, he hasn't been great. He got chased by the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS; he only did just enough against the Guardians in the Game 5 clincher that required heroics in extras; and then he got shelled against the Dodgers in LA.

Shortly after Juan Soto tied the game with a solo homer on Saturday, Rodón unraveled immediately after the Yankees held a semblance of momentum. Classic. It's just what this team does.

After an efficient first inning, Rodón got knocked around for four earned runs on six hits (three homers) across just three innings and 59 laborious pitches. He lasted just one more out before Boone went to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth.

Cole and Rodón were supposed to represent a lifeline for the Yankees in their first two road games. Cole was on track to be just that before his manager interfered. There wasn't really much faith in Rodón to give the Yankees' the upper hand, though. His home-road splits were drastic (he's not good away from Yankee Stadium) and he's struggled in the spotlight. He's a good pitcher, but the shortcomings are there and the Yankees know this.

Now it's Schmidt in Game 3, possibly Cole on short rest for Game 4, and Gil for Game 5, if it even gets to that point? The Yankees are more than likely heading home with an 0-2 deficit and an exhausted bullpen/struggling offense.

The talking heads and analysts were right. The Yankees' starting rotation was the noticeable advantage in this World Series. And New York wasted no time debunking that to prove how out-matched they are against the Dodgers.