'They're easy to rage-bait': Schlittler takes AL-best 1.87 ERA into hostile territory in Toronto

TORONTO -- Cam Schlittler knows what is waiting for him.

When the Rogers Centre roof is closed, noise gets trapped inside the building, making Blue Jays fans feel even closer than they are. This is a place where the Yankees have amassed more scars than success in recent years, and to all of that, the young right-hander says: Bring it on.

“I know they don’t like us,” Schlittler said of the Blue Jays. “The fans don’t like us. The fans don’t like me. So it’ll be good to go out there and try to be locked in, try to give us a quality start and put us in a position to win games.”

Schlittler will be looking to even the series after the Yankees lost the opener, 8-5, on Friday evening. The Yankees lost eight of nine in Toronto last season, including the first two games of the American League Division Series.

The 25-year-old Schlittler enters Saturday with a 7-3 record and an American League-leading 1.87 ERA across 14 starts, with an 0.87 WHIP that ranks second in the Majors only to the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski (0.74).

Why, Schlittler was asked, does he believe the Toronto fans don’t like him?

“They’re easy to rage-bait, I think,” Schlittler said. “All the stuff last year in the playoffs or whatever it is -- they’ve got a whole country behind them, so there’s a lot. They’re passionate about it. You respect them for that, but I don’t really like them. They ended our season last year. I hope everyone’s got that chip on their shoulder.”

Everyone remembers how Schlittler performed in the American League Wild Card Series, the dominant 12-strikeout outing that sent the Red Sox home and quieted the online chirpers.

Fewer people ask him about what came next. The Yankees celebrated on their field in the Bronx, then zipped up to Toronto, where they were greeted by a rested Blue Jays team that was ready for them.

“We came here and underperformed for two games,” Schlittler said. “We kind of got our [butts] kicked. We went home and I definitely thought we played better. It was frustrating how it ended there.”

Schlittler was the Yankees’ starter in the decisive ALDS Game 4, charged with four runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings on the wrong side of a bullpen game for a Toronto club that went on to win the pennant.

“I wasn’t really too upset with my performance,” Schlittler said. “They did what they do so well. I gave us a shot. They’ve got a good team, and I’m frustrated with how last year ended.”

Schlittler will be facing the Jays for the first time since May 20, when they handed him a 2-1 loss at Yankee Stadium. Three of the starters from that game -- Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells -- are expected to be missing from Saturday’s batting order.

“Obviously we’ve got some guys out right now that were key parts of the lineup,” he said. “We looked really good in Cleveland, so I just hope we can bring that kind of momentum here into their place.”