Rodón used his four-seam fastball just 26 percent of the time on Thursday, the lowest usage for the left-hander in nearly seven years. The Yankees believe the secret for Rodón to become the pitcher they envisioned is expanding his arsenal.

In some respects, Carlos Rodón starting Opening Day resembled a worst-case scenario. The Yankees ace is gone for the year, a reality that might have fully sunk in on fans as Gerrit Cole was introduced before the game and walked onto the field with his arm in a brace.

Rodón showed off a beard in Thursday’s home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Yankees’ revised facial hair policy opened the door for Rodón, a two-time All-Star who wore a beard earlier in his career, to add some scruff.