Carlos Rodon is off the schneid.

After three brutal starts to begin his Yankees career, going 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA and one sarcastic kiss, the $162 million left-hander set out on Wednesday to, in his words, “not suck or suck less.”

Rodon accomplished his goal and channeled his emotions into fiery screams when he successfully navigated through traffic, finally giving the Yankees the kind of start he craved on the way to a 3-1 win over the Mets in The Bronx.

In his first start since being booed by Yankees fans in Anaheim last week, Rodon walked off the mound after 5 ²/₃ innings of one-run ball to an ovation from the sellout crowd of 46,761.

It was not the easiest of nights, as Rodon only had one clean inning, but he powered through while stranding seven runners.

“I would have taken [the win] about three starts ago, but it’s nice to have it now and finally get that out of the way and build off this start and see where we can go from there,” Rodon said.

Rodon out-pitched another left-hander whose season was delayed by injury, the Mets’ Jose Quintana, to secure a split of the Subway Series in this two-game set and the overall four-game season series.

The Yankees (54-48), playing what they hope was their last game before Aaron Judge is activated off the injured list this weekend in Baltimore, manufactured just enough offense to make sure Rodon’s improved outing was not all for naught. Harrison Bader went 3-for-4 with two runs, helping to ensure the Yankees remained 2 ½ games back of the Blue Jays for the final playoff spot.

“A really big outing for [Rodon] and for us,” manager Aaron Boone said.

The Mets (47-54), meanwhile, inched closer to being sellers at the trade deadline after falling for the fourth time in their last six games.

“It’s been tough like this all year,” said Jeff McNeil, who had a strong night defensively in right field. “We progress and then tonight the bats kind of fell asleep. We’ve just got to put it all together for a while. We’re not in the best spot right now so we need to play good baseball and do it quick.”

The Yankees’ bullpen, which has had a rough July collectively, was much better in relief of Rodon on Wednesday. Michael King, Wandy Peralta, Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes combined for 3 ¹/₃ perfect innings to close out the win before the Yankees entered an off day ahead of a grueling stretch against the Orioles, Rays and Astros.

Rodon got a 2-0 lead to work with in the second inning in unconventional fashion.

The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs and scratched across a pair of runs on Oswald Peraza’s fielder’s choice and Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sacrifice fly, with Bader racing home just in time.

The Mets cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third inning when Brandon Nimmo hit a sacrifice fly to plate Francisco Alvarez.

But Bader sparked another rally in the fourth inning, which he led off with an infield single and took second on a throwing error by third baseman Mark Vientos.

Anthony Volpe came up next and roped a single the other way to score Bader for the 3-1 lead.

The Mets had more chances to get to Rodon, but the big lefty would not allow it.

They had their best chance in the fifth, when they put a pair of runners on with one out, but Rodon got Francisco Lindor to line out and then struck out Alonso on a slider.

Thanks to his bullpen’s impeccable night behind him, Rodon ended up as the winning pitcher for the first time in pinstripes.

“I think it’s meaningful,” Boone said. “It’s not been an easy road here since spring training and trying to get back [from injuries]. I think that’s hurt him, because he wants to be out there. He knows he was brought here to be a big part of this team and it took longer for him to get back than he would have liked. I think that ate at him a lot. But he’s here now and hopefully continues to build momentum off of this one.”