Some New York Yankees fans had been wondering if the team would start to limit Cam Schlittler’s innings or even potentially skip one of his remaining starts with the playoffs in view, but it doesn’t appear that the Yankees are planning on that. At least for now.
The Yankees have locked in their starting pitchers for this weekend’s three-game series in Arizona, and the headline assignment is Schlittler taking the ball Saturday against the Diamondbacks, via MLB.com.
With the club already in the postseason but still chasing both the American League East title and the top Wild Card seed, every start carries extra weight.
Manager Aaron Boone’s staff listed Gerrit Cole for Friday, Schlittler for Saturday, and Will Warren for Sunday, setting up a rotation that showcases the team’s depth heading into the final stretch.
Schlittler’s outing is the one that stands out. The right-hander has been the anchor of New York’s staff all year, posting a 14-6 record with a 1.95 ERA and 228 strikeouts.
Those numbers have made him the clear favorite for the American League Cy Young Award and, in the view of many around the league, the best pitcher in baseball this season … although he has already racked up 184.2 innings. He will face Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt, who enters with a 7-3 mark and a 3.77 ERA.
The contrast is sharp: a dominant, high-strikeout ace against a solid but far less overwhelming counterpart.
The Yankees’ pitching staff as a whole has been exceptional. Their 3.19 team ERA ranks first in the majors, and they lead the league in fewest earned runs and runs allowed.
They have done it despite injuries that forced constant adjustments. Schlittler’s consistency has allowed Boone to manage the rest of the rotation with an eye toward October.
After this series, the club expects to have Max Fried and Carlos Rodón lined up for Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Cole and Schlittler available later in that set.
Sunday’s starter, Will Warren, has quietly put together a strong campaign of his own (10-6, 3.89 ERA). How Boone uses him in the postseason—whether as a fifth starter or a high-leverage reliever—will be one of the more interesting decisions of the coming weeks.
For now, the immediate focus is this weekend in the desert. Friday’s matchup pits Cole against Eduardo Rodriguez, Sunday features Warren opposite Corbin Burnes, and Saturday belongs to Schlittler.
The Yankees know the Diamondbacks can be dangerous at home, but they also know they possess one of the strongest rotations in the sport.
Giving the ball to Schlittler on Saturday is both a statement of confidence and a practical move. It also demonstrates that New York is not concerned about his workload.
If he continues to pitch the way he has all season, the Yanks will take another step toward securing home-field advantage and heading into October with its best possible alignment. The series begins Friday night. All eyes will be on Saturday.
