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.

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.