Schlittler will not pitch in ASG with focus on preparation for second half

WASHINGTON -- Yankees mound sensation Cam Schlittler will not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the team announced on Sunday.

Schlittler has no health concerns, manager Aaron Boone said. But the Yankees' young ace wants to focus on getting ready for the second half.

"Cam is not going to pitch Tuesday,” Boone said. “He came in today, talked to me about it. [He] made that decision.

“[He] just feels like on his recovery day, to go back out there throwing 100 mph is something that I think he felt a little apprehensive about. [I] certainly support that decision, and obviously I think he understands what's at stake here in the second half, too, for us and for him. I'm certainly supportive of his decision."

After the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Nationals on Sunday, Schlittler went through his thought process and the timeline that got him to the decision. His thoughts went to injuries in the first half to teammates Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón.

"I was leaning toward pitching [in the game] the last X amount of weeks,” Schlittler said. “That was kind of the plan. I knew I didn't line up perfectly. It was going to kind of fall in a bullpen day there.

“After the game yesterday, [I] thought about it. My priorities are to the team and how I can help this team to win a championship. I wasn't comfortable enough that I was going to recover 100% to try and go out there for an inning and throw as hard as I can."

But Schlittler wanted to make clear that he will be available to pitch if called upon.

"I'm on the roster,” Schlittler said. “If I need to throw, I'll throw. I'm just going to show up there and prepare the way I usually prepare, and we are going to see how it goes from there."

Schlittler is lined up to start the first game of the second half against the Dodgers on Friday at Yankee Stadium, though the Yankees have not announced their planned rotation to begin the second half. Given that Schlittler pitched this past Saturday, if he does appear in the All-Star Game, it would take place on his throw day.

"We've talked about our rotation [against the Dodgers],” Boone said. “I'm not ready to reveal that yet. But we have an idea of the way we're going. But [I] kind of want to get through not only today, but the next couple of days."

Schlittler does have a lot of family going to the game, and he plans to still attend the festivities.

"[It would] be a cool experience,” Schlittler said after Saturday’s start of the potential of appearing in Tuesday’s game. “I'm not too worried about [pitching in the game]. I've got more things to worry about in terms of just this team and how we've been playing and how it's been in the last couple of days.

“Last time I talked to you, I was a little bit frustrated with the pace of play recently. It will be good to end on a good note and get that sweep and go up to Philly and be comfortable with that.”

Schlittler, 25, is 9-5 with an American League-leading 2.05 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his second big league season. Schlittler has an exemplary ratio of 137 strikeouts to just 25 walks in 118 2/3 innings.

Boone made sure Schlittler was strong in his decision to not pitch Tuesday.

"One of the things I asked him was, 'Have you given this a lot of thought, consideration?' And he has,” Boone said. “I feel good about that. He feels good. He feels normal today post-outing. I just wanted him to be thoughtful in how he came to that decision, and certainly we support it wholeheartedly."

Boone made his only appearance as a player in the 2003 All-Star Game as a National League reserve with the Reds.

Was Boone surprised Schlittler took his name out of the running for Tuesday?

"Not really,” Boone said. “Not that I was expecting it. I felt like it could have gone either way. But I'm glad he came in this morning and kind of talked through it a little bit."

Schlittler confirmed he made his decision before finding out the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease was named the AL starter.

"I found out that after [I told Boone],” Schlittler said. “I walked in today, and I had a conversation with Boone. I thought about it. Congrats to Dylan, he deserves it. He's been great this year. That decision [to have Cease start] had nothing to do with my decision."