Schlittler looks to get Yanks back on track to start crucial series vs. Rays

NEW YORK -- Right-hander Cam Schlittler has yet to play a full season in the Major Leagues. Yet, he is already the man in the Yankees’ rotation and has the stats to back it up.

Entering this week, Schlittler led AL pitchers in WAR per Baseball Reference (3.6), ERA (2.08) and ERA+ (203). His ERA is the second lowest by a Yankees pitcher through his first 18 starts of a season in the last 40 years, trailing only Luis Severino in 2018 (1.98).

It’s fitting that Schlittler is starting the first game of an important four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday night. It’s safe to say it’s his biggest start of the season.

The Yankees are hoping that Schlittler can help get their mojo back. They have lost 12 of their last 15 games, getting outscored 86-41 in that span, and are four games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East standings.

New York is looking for its first quality start since June 24 against the Tigers, and it was Ryan Weathers who gave the Yankees that start by allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that members of the rotation have had “down outings” in recent days.

“We are dealing with attrition right now. A couple of guys have had a couple of rough starts, but I don’t think it’s indicative of where they are and how they are throwing the ball,” Boone said.

It will mark the second time this season Schlittler will face Tampa Bay. On April 12, the Rays gave Schlittler his first loss of 2026. He allowed three runs and struck out eight over five innings in a 5-4 loss.

“We’ve got a great offense,” Schlittler said then. “I’ve just got to be able to pick them up there, which I didn’t. I’ve got to be better there and limit runs.”

In Monday’s game, Schlittler will not be considered the underdog like he was when he faced the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series last October. Before that postseason game, he had pitched in just 14 big league games, but he threw like a veteran in the clincher against Boston, working eight scoreless innings. Schlittler knows he will be looked at differently once he steps on the mound Monday night.

“The people [in New York] expect me to win games ... ” Schlittler said. "Obviously, they are going to hold you to a higher standard, and that’s something you want to be a part of because you want your fans to hold you accountable. Obviously, I hold myself accountable to the highest standard when I mess up.”

In last start against the Tigers on Tuesday, Schlittler held himself accountable after allowing a season-high six runs in a 9-3 loss. Three of the four homers he allowed came in the first inning.

“I got ahead a lot in the first, just didn’t execute with two strikes,” Schlittler told the media that day. “For a team that likes to put the ball in the air off fastballs, I just didn’t get the job done. I just didn’t make the right pitches when it mattered.”