ANAHEIM -- Twenty-four hours after Gerrit Cole takes the mound to anchor the middle of New York’s rotation, the Yankees will turn to the 25-year-old right-hander who has spent the summer evolving from a promising arm into a bona fide Cy Young contender.
When Cam Schlittler gets the ball on Wednesday night against the Angels, he’ll once again be looked upon to be an anchor the Yankees need as they seek to boost their position in the American League East race.
Trailing the Rays in the division as the calendar has flipped to the final month of the regular season, New York finds itself in need of quality innings from its starting staff.
Enter Schlittler.
With veteran rotation mates Gerrit Cole and Max Fried managing workload constraints following their respective returns from the injured list, Schlittler has transformed from a 2022 seventh-round Draft pick into a rotation cornerstone this season -- and a primary contender for the AL Cy Young Award.
Across 28 starts this season, the All-Star right-hander has posted a 12-6 record with a 2.09 ERA and 201 strikeouts. The Massachusetts native ranks in the 98th percentile in pitching run value and the 99th percentile in fastball run value per Baseball Savant, frequently overpowering hitters with a four-seamer that averages 97.9 mph.
Schlittler’s previous start on Friday against the Red Sox showcased his breakout campaign at its best. Even when his command wavered -- as he matched a career high with five walks -- Schlittler managed damage effectively, powering through 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory while striking out eight.
In doing so, Schlittler reached 201 strikeouts on the season, becoming the fourth-youngest pitcher in franchise history to record a 200-strikeout campaign -- joining Al Downing (1964), Luis Severino (2017) and Bob Turley (1955).
Schlittler’s emergence has provided essential cover for New York's pitching infrastructure. With bullpen anchors Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar carrying a heavy workload over recent weeks, Schlittler’s ability to work deep into his start on Wednesday will determine how much rest manager Aaron Boone can afford his high-leverage relievers.