NEW YORK – Bad news for big league hitters: Cam Schlittler found some extra heat.
The Yankees’ right-hander made a mechanical adjustment between starts that unlocked a slight velocity boost, resulting in the hardest pitches of his big league career to date.
Schlittler’s previous career high was 100.8 mph, in his American League Wild Card Series start against the Red Sox last October. He exceeded that six times in Monday evening's 12-1 win over the Orioles, topping out at 101.3 mph.
“I felt good,” Schlittler said. “Just looking at the timing part of it, the mechanics and the leg lift, I was able to put those two together and see those results.”
That increased sizzle came with solid results, as Schlittler limited Baltimore to one run on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He exited with the bases loaded in the sixth, leaning on reliever Jake Bird for a big strikeout of Jeremiah Jackson that preserved the Yanks’ 3-1 lead at the time.
The Yankees improved to 7-1 in Schlittler’s starts this season. Overall, he’s 5-1 with a 1.52 ERA, having allowed one run or fewer in each of his past four starts.
“I think he discovered something delivery-wise that got him a little more power,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He was having a little bit of a hard time harnessing it at the level he’s used to. There were a handful of pitches that didn’t do exactly what he was expecting, but he was electric.”
As Boone alluded, Schlittler’s control eluded him in that sixth inning, with consecutive walks issued to Leody Taveras and Colton Cowser -- the latter of which forced in a run. Schlittler walked three overall, striking out four.
“You get a little bit of a velo jump, but the execution wasn’t there today,” Schlittler said. “You can see the strikes were down. I’ve just got to make that adjustment going into the next start.”
Early this season, Schlittler had been throwing more sinkers and cutters, but he turned the clock back more to his 2025 self last time out against the Rangers – throwing 62% four-seamers, compared to 40% in his first six starts. Schlittler threw 47% four-seamers against the O’s on Monday.
Schlittler showed no ill effects after being clipped in the back of his left leg by a Blaze Alexander comebacker in the third inning, one of several balls the O’s put in play up the middle.
“It hit the hamstring, the little bit of meat I have,” Schlittler said. “I’m not really concerned about it. It didn’t affect anything.”