Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder injury was the main news from last night’s World Series game, but he wasn’t the only player dealing with an ailment. Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon pitched through a blister on his finger, giving up four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Blisters can impact a pitcher’s grip and usually result in a brief stint on the injured list to allow the blister to heal, but Rodon minimized the issue and said it won’t affect his availability moving forward in the World Series.
Rodon mentioned that he has had blister problems before in his career, but this is the first one he’s had this year. Despite some struggles in the postseason, the Yankees hope he can deliver a strong performance if the series makes it back to Los Angeles.
In Game 1 of the World Series, Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty dealt with hamstring tightness, but manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe it’s serious. Flaherty is expected to start Game 5 following starts by Walker Buehler and a bullpen game.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is expected to be Flaherty’s opponent in the series, as the Yankees have not considered starting him on short rest in Game 4.
Meanwhile, Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips was left off the World Series roster due to various ailments, including arm fatigue and shoulder issues. Phillips mentioned nerve irritation in his shoulder, but believes it’s not a major concern. He could potentially be added to the roster if another pitcher is injured, with Joe Kelly being a possible replacement.
