Chicago White Sox: Carlos Rodon leads the way with one crazy stat

For the second day in a row, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs. This time, it was a final score of 4-0 after a great game at Wrigley Field. Going in, you had a feeling that it would be a lot different than Friday night’s wild game for a lot of reasons.

The only similarity in the two games is the fact that Carlos Rodon matched Lance Lynn’s brilliant performance on the pitcher’s mound. Not only did he match it, but you can also argue that he one-uped him.

Rodon dominated the Chicago Cubs lineup and made it look easy. He went 5.0 innings and had 11 strikeouts and didn’t give up a single run. If it wasn’t in a National League ballpark, he might have gone more innings but Michael Kopech took over for him in the 6th. It was a brilliant job by Rodon to further his case for an American League Cy Young Award.

The fact that Rodon had 11 strikeouts is simply amazing. It feels like that was the biggest key to the White Sox winning the game. He dominated them early so well that they barely even put the ball in play. That is the key start of the game.

The White Sox gave him just enough offense to earn him the win. Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu, and Cesar Hernandez were the big four in terms of White Sox bats in this game and that’s just what you like to see.

Carlos Rodon’s stuff was great in the Chicago White Sox win over the Chicago Cubs.

Rodon was clearly feeling it very early. He struck out the side in the first inning and you knew from that point that his stuff was on point. It was the first time in the history of the Crosstown Classic that a pitcher had ever had seven strikeouts through the first three innings. The first guy to ever do it was Carlos Rodon back in 2017. In that same game, he had 11 strikeouts through four innings which is crazy. The guy likes facing the Cubs.

When Rodon took the mound for the first time this season, we would have never thought that he would be this good. We just needed to see him be a good 5th starter but now he pitches like an ace. Lynn and Rodon both have serious chances to win the Cy Young Award by the end of the season.

After the game, Tony La Russa announced that Carlos would be the starter of the Field of Dreams game on Thursday. That has to be so exciting for him after everything he has been through. With the way he mowed down the Cubs in this one, you have to feel confident in him for this job.

Michael Kopech, Aaron Bummer, Craig Kimbrel, and Ryan Tepera shut the door for Rodon the rest of the way as the team accumulated 17 strikeouts in the ballgame. It was a very nice performance and a much-needed second win in a row. Dylan Cease will try to lead the way to a sweep later tonight at Wrigley Field.