Yankees Notebook: Carlos Rodon allows two homers in spring debut, Aaron Boone gives look at regular season rotation

Manager Aaron Boone was forced to pull his newly-signed ace Carlos Rodon in Sunday’s 10-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Rodon allowed two homers in 2+ innings of work in his spring debut with the Yankees. He finished with six hits, five earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

The bludgeoning started early, with Braves slugger Matt Olson sending a two-rum homer to right field in the bottom of the first inning. Rodon smoothly retired the order in the second inning, but Olson struck again with an RBI single in the third. Third baseman Austin Riley followed and hit a solo homer to left center, making the score 5-1.

Oswaldo Cabrera got the Yankees on the board first with a solo homer. Cabrera’s hot bat continued on Sunday as he hit is second homer of the spring to go along with five hits in 17 at-bats. He also has 7 RBI so far in three Grapefruit League games.

The Yankees failed to muster much offense after Cabrera’s solo shot, entering the ninth inning down four runs. The comeback was sparked with two homers in the inning, with Jasson Dominguez’s three-run bomb serving as the go-ahead homer. The center fielder went 1-2 on the day and his batting average now sits at .417 after 12 at-bats this spring.

EARLY LOOK AT ROTATION

Boone gave a look at the possible starting rotation for the first two series of the regular season that’ll take place at Yankee Stadium against the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. Barring any injuries or mishaps, Gerrit Cole will start Opening Day and Rodon will start the second game of the season against his former team. Luis Severino would start the third game of the season.

The fourth game would go to Domingo German or Clarke Schmidt depending on who wins the job this spring. Nestor Cortes is slated to get his start in the fifth game once recovered from injury.

INJURY REPORT

Cortes being the fifth starter is due to the lefty being “a week to 10 days” behind other starters due to his hamstring injury, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. The extra days allow Cortes to build up for his season debut.

Tommy Kahnle is dealing with right biceps tendinitis, said Boone. The reliever has been shut down for 10 days and the team hopes to have him ready for the start of the regular season. Sunday marked Day 3 of his shutdown.

“We’ll be careful and not rush him, but it should keep him in line,” Boone said.

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