The New York Yankees will open up their AL Division Series matchup against either the Royals or the Orioles on Sunday. They will obviously be going with their ace, Gerrit Cole. However, they announced on Wednesday that they will be going with former NC State pitcher, Carlos Rodon, for Game 2 on Monday.

He was in contention to start Game 2 with Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, but Schmidt is just coming back off of inury and Gil has been erratic down the stretch. Meanwhile, Rodon has been solid.

Rodon hasn’t given up more than 2 runs in any of his previous 5 starts and has 34 strikeouts over that span.

Rodon finishd the season with a 3.96 ERA and 195 Ks. That’s the second most strikeouts in his career (best was 237 with San Francisco in 2022). It was his 4th best season in terms of ERA over his 10 year career.

But, the former Wolfpacker hasn’t fared very well against Baltimore this season. Over 2 starts he has a 9.00 ERA. However, he has dominated Kansas City. In those 2 starts he has a 2.08 ERA and 12ks over 13 innings.

Let’s hope he’s matched up against KC in this one!

Here’s a rundown of how the former NC State football players in the NFL did in Week 4.

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers (starter) led the Raiders in receptions (5), receiving yards (49) and targets (10) in their 20-16 win over the Browns. His PFF grade of 73.3 was the 3rd highest on the Las Vegas offense, which is his highest grade of the season, and his highest grade since Week 12 of last year.

Punter AJ Cole (starter) averaged 58 yards per punt (4 punts) in Las Vegas’ 20-16 win over Cleveland.

AJ Cole is too funny for this. 🤣

(🎥: @NFLonCBS) pic.twitter.com/4ZJl0H3njp

— theScore (@theScore) September 29, 2024

Linebacker Germaine Pratt (starter) had 9 tackles and 1 pass breakup in Cincinnati’s 34-24 win over Carolina. His PFF grade was 66.6, playing in 64 of 70 snaps. He was injured in the contest, but was able to return.

Linebacker Payton Wilson had a career high 6 tackles in his first career start in the Steelers’ 24-27 loss. His PFF Grade was 74.0, which was the 4th highest on Pittsburgh’s defense, and the highest grade of his career. He played 37 of 66 snaps.

Linebacker James Smith-Williams had 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over the Saints. His PFF grade was 67.1 which is his best grade since Week 7 of last year. Smith-Williams played in 34 of 74 snaps.

Defensive Tackle Alim McNeill (starter) had 2 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup and 1 QB Hit in Detroit’s 42-29 win over Seattle. His PFF grade of 77.0 was the 2nd highest on the team, which was his best grade of the season, and the highest grade since Week 13 of last year. McNeill played in 63 of 90 snaps.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (starter) was 19 of 32 for 168 yards and a touchdown (1 INT) in the Pats’ 13-30 loss to the Niners. His PFF grade was 34.4, which is the 2nd lowest grade of his career.

Keeping the right mindset heading into the second quarter of the season.

Jacoby Brissett shares his message to the team on @WEEI. pic.twitter.com/sSWlkponDX

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 30, 2024

Cornerback Nick McCloud (starter) saw his first action of the season, returning from injury, in the Giants’ 15-20 loss to the Cowboys. He had 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss, and his PFF grade was 60.7 (37 of 56 snaps).

Linebacker Drake Thomas had 2 tackles in Seattle’s 29-42 loss to the Lions. He had a PFF grade of 33.9 in 9 snaps, which is the lowest grade of his career.

Center Garrett Bradbury (starter) played every snap in Minnesota’s 31-29 win over Green Bay. His PFF grade was 68.0.

Left Tackle Ikem Ekwonu (starter) played every snap in the Panthers’ 24-34 loss to the Bengals. His PFF grade was 66.3.

Left Guard Joe Thuney (starter) played every snap in the Chiefs’ 17-10 win over the Chargers. His PFF grade was 61.7.

Left Guard Chandler Zavala (starter) played every snap in the Panther’s 24-34 loss to the Bengals. His PFF grade was 63.4, which was the best grade of his career.

Place Kicker Brayden Narveson (starter) missed both of his field goal attempts in Green Bay’s 29-31 loss to the Vikings.

Nose Tackle Kentavius Street didn’t record any stats in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over the Saints, but played in 19 of 74 snaps. His PFF grade of 28.5 was the worst grade on Atlanta’s defense, and the 2nd worst grade of his career.

DNP

Center Dylan McMahon – Eagles

Injury

DT BJ Hill – Bengals

DT Larrell Murchison – Rams

RB Nyheim Hines – Browns

LB Bradley Chubb – Dolphins

QB Russell Wilson – Steelers

DT Justin Jones – Cardinals

The 2024 MLB Playoffs kickoff today with the Wild Card Round.

NC State has had 12 former players go on to play in the MLB playoffs, and 2 of them are playin in the playoffs this year: SS Trea Turner (Phillies) and P Carlos Rodon (Yankees).

SS Trea Turner (2016-17, 19, 21-24) – 7 trips to the playoffs/56 games
SS Adam Everett (2004, 05) – 2 trips to the playoffs/19 games
3B Tracy Woodson (1988) – 1 trip to the playoffs/7 games
OF Dave Robertson (1917) – 1 trip to the playoffs/6 games
LHP Mike Caldwell (1981, 82) – 2 trips to the playoffs/6 games
RHP Tim Stoddard (1979, 84) – 2 trips to the playoffs/6 games
2B/3B Doug Strange (1995) – 1 trip to the playoffs/6 games
SS Jimmy Brown (1942) – 1 trip to the playoffs/5 games
RHP Joey Devine (2005) – 1 trip to the plyoffs/3 games
LHP Carlos Rodon (2020-21, 24) – 3 trips to the playoffs/2 games
LHP Kemp Wicker (1937) – 1 trip to the playoffs/1 game
LHP Dan Plesac (1999) – 1 trip to the playoffs/1 game

Nine of the Twelve former Wolfpack players went on to play in the Semi-Finals.

Turner (3x)
Stoddard (3x)
Everett (2x)
Robertson (2x*)
Wicker (2x*)
Woodson (1x)
Caldwell (1x)
Strange (1x)
Brown (1x)

*There were no playoffs, only a World Series

Former NC State All-American Pitcher Carlos Rodon and his New York Yankees won the AL East Division title, and will play the winner of the Royals and the Orioles in the Wild Card Round.

Rodon just wrapped up the healthiest season of his MLB career, making 32 starts on the year (career high). He also had a career high 16 wins, which was the most of anyone on New York’s pitching staff, and was tied for the 3rd most in the Majors (2nd in AL). Rodon struck out 195 batters, which led New York, ranked 7th in the American League, and is the 2nd highest total in his career.

While Rodon still hasn’t found the same groove he had in San Francisco in 2021-22, he did finish with an ERA of 3.96, which is a vast improvement from the 6.85 ERA he had last year in his first season in pinstripes.

Rodon did his best work in the 2nd half of the season, which bodes well for the Yankees heading into the playoffs.

Carlos Rodón

Pre All-Star Break:

107 IP
4.63 ERA
1.28 WHIP
112 K

Post All-Star Break:

68 IP
2.91 ERA
1.13 WHIP
83 Kpic.twitter.com/An87WY1o5t

— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) September 30, 2024

Here are Rodon’s reflections on this year, and his mindset heading into the playoffs.

Carlos Rodón discusses his 32 starts this season, postseason anticipation. pic.twitter.com/NhEXcCbXq0

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 28, 2024

When it comes to former NC State pitchers, Rodon ranks 2nd in career Wins and Games Started. His 1,206 career strikeouts is the most by a former Wolfpack pitcher. Rodon’s career ERA of 3.85 is the 4th best by a former NC State pitcher with at least 50 games started in the majors.