Who knows where the New York Yankees would be if not for rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler?
Yet, with New York closing in on another postseason appearance, Schlittler was especially hard on himself after he fell one out short of qualifying for a win in the Yankees‘ 10-9 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night at Target Field.
Schlittler is 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.96 FIP and 69 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings over his 12-start big-league career.
He could have earned his fourth major-league win, but he came unglued in the fifth inning, while surrendering four runs, and walking five, while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings — leaving the game with a 10-4 lead with two outs in the fifth inning.
Mark Leiter Jr. ended up getting the win for the Yankees (84-67), who won for the fifth time in their past seven games and lead the Cleveland Guardians by 4.5 games with 11 games left.
What Did Cam Schlittler Say About Pitching In The Playoffs?
The Yankees sit in the No. 1 AL wild card spot and have a 98.3 percent chance to make the playoffs, per Baseball Reference.
Schlittler pretty clearly has been New York’s No. 4 starter — behind co-aces Max Fried and Carlos Rodon and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. He has a 100-plus mph fastball as part of a nasty four-pitch arsenal that has generated a 26.4 Whiff rate, per Baseball Savant.
Still, Schlittler isn’t sure he’ll be able to pitch in October if he has outings like the one he had Tuesday.
“That’s obviously the goal,” Schlittler said when asked about potentially toeing the rubber in the postseason. “You’re not going to get those opportunities when you walk five against a team that’s not even in the race. I’ve got to be better with that and keep working over these next few starts.”
What Did Aaron Boone Say About Cam Schlitter Pitching In The Postseason?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who often uses deflects criticism lobbed toward the team in his media availability, was uncharacteristically candid in his assessment of the 24-year-old’s outing — particularly since the Yankees gave him a 10-1 lead to work with in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“Just not enough strikes,” Boone said. “His stuff was again excellent, and he is a strike thrower, so I don’t know if he was nibbling or what, but too many free passes, especially when you get a lead like that, and you have his stuff, he’s gotta get after it in the strike zone. It kind of got away.”
Boone was asked directly about both Schlittler, and No. 5 starter Will Warren, potentially landing on the Yankees‘ postseason roster. Schlittler has better numbers than Warren (8-7, 4.44 ERA in 152 innings in 31 starts), albeit in far fewer innings.
But Boone said there will be a decision — and both could get onto the playoff roster — though he deferred an assessment until after New York officially clinches a berth.
“We’ll do what we think is best,” Boone said. “I expect hopefully both of them to play a huge role for us down the stretch in what is hopefully an October run.”
Yankees Rookie Cam Schlittler Sends Honest Message on Pitching in Playoffs