On April 17, Cam Schlittler was ready to take the mound at Yankee Stadium as he looked to re-establish himself. He was coming off a pair of starts where he was dissatisfied with his results.
“I’ve got to be better there and limit runs …” Schlittler said after his fourth start of the season on April 12. “I was able to read what they were trying to do early. [I just made] poor pitches in poor situations. I’ve got to learn from that and take it next week into [his next start vs. Kansas City].”
Schlittler did take that into his next start as he faced the Royals, as he allowed one unearned run in six strong innings in New York's eventual 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium.
Since then, Schlittler has been on a roll, as he has become one of the best starting pitchers in baseball and he looks to continue that trend on Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. ET. This time, though, he will face the Royals in Kansas City. It'll be the first time Schlittler will face the same opponent for a second time this season.
Beginning with that start against the Royals on April 17, Schlittler is 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA in 44 1/3 innings (seven starts). On the season overall, he is leading the Majors in ERA (1.50) and Pitching Run Value, and he's first in the AL in WHIP (0.86). He's also been dominant on the road, going 5-1 with a 1.04 ERA in seven away starts.
With a three-fastball arsenal, Schlittler uses his heaters more than any other pitcher in the Majors, and the pitches left an impression on the Royals back in April.
“It’s an elite fastball,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “He doesn’t shy away from it with the percentages. He does a good job of controlling the top rail of the strike zone and going up above.
"It’s not that often a guy that tall is able to do the things he was able to do. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game right now.”