Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that Cam Schlittle will start Tuesday’s wild-card opener against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Max Fried will follow in Game 2 on Wednesday, while Gerrit Cole is lined up for a potential winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday. Carlos Rodon, normally the fourth member of the rotation, is expected to be available out of the bullpen throughout the best-of-three series.
Yankees choose Schlittler over Fried for Game 1
Boone acknowledged that there was some debate over exactly where to deploy Schlittler. The 25-year-old right-hander is coming off a remarkable regular season, finishing with 239 strikeouts and a 1.95 ERA, the third-best ERA in Yankees history.
“Obviously, Cam’s going to win the Cy Young Award and been the best pitcher in the league and has earned the right to have that,” Boone said.
The question was whether Schlittler should open the series or receive another day of rest and pitch Game 2, where he could potentially either clinch the series or keep New York alive.
Ultimately, Boone decided there was no reason to wait.
Schlittler finished his first full major league season with 193⅔ innings, roughly 40 more than his previous professional high. He and Will Warren were also the only Yankees starters to avoid the injured list, making Schlittler a rare source of stability in a rotation repeatedly forced to adjust.
His final regular-season appearance came Thursday against Tampa Bay, when he threw 70 pitches over three innings in a tuneup outing. Boone informed Schlittler of the Game 1 assignment Sunday morning, catching the pitcher while he was “half asleep on the training table.”
“He’s excited,” Boone said. “He wants the ball, and he’s ready to go.”
Max Fried, Gerrit Cole lined up behind Schlittler
Fried will enter Game 2 with considerably more rest. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 2.80 ERA over 20 starts despite twice landing on the injured list because of a bone bruise in his left elbow.
He last pitched Sept. 22 against Tampa Bay, allowing four runs in 6⅔ innings, and will face Boston on seven days’ rest.
Cole would also pitch on seven days’ rest if a third game becomes necessary. Rodon, meanwhile, gives Boone an unusually accomplished bullpen option after recording a 1.89 ERA in seven starts following his August return from the injured list.
Aaron Judge’s calf injury creates wild-card roster question
The pitching order is only part of what New York must settle before Tuesday morning’s roster deadline.
Aaron Judge remains a major question after suffering a moderate-grade calf strain Sept. 16. According to Boone, the three-time MVP has yet to resume baseball activities and remains focused on rehabilitation work.
“Started to do some plyos,” Boone said. “I know he was on the treadmill a little bit yesterday. So not a whole lot yet.”
Giancarlo Stanton could return as pinch hitter
Giancarlo Stanton presents another difficult decision. He has not appeared in a major league game since April after dealing with three separate calf strains, though he faced live pitching twice last week.
Boone has indicated that Stanton could potentially make the wild-card roster strictly as a pinch hitter.
Center fielder Trent Grisham is dealing with a hamstring issue, while left-hander Ryan Weathers is working his way back from a forearm injury.
Yankees weigh Ryan Weathers bullpen role
Weathers threw 15 pitches of live batting practice Friday against Stanton and Grisham and reported Sunday that he came through the session healthy.
If included on the roster, his workload would likely be tightly controlled, with one-inning appearances on nonconsecutive days.
“I really like where Weathers is at,” Boone said, adding that the Yankees must decide whether another live session would leave him better prepared or whether to use him immediately in a limited postseason role.
Schlittler decision could shape Yankees’ ALDS rotation
If New York gets through Boston, the Schlittler decision also establishes a clear path for the next round.
He would be positioned to start Game 2 of the division series against Tampa Bay on an extra day of rest and could return for Game 5 on regular rest if necessary. Fried would be lined up for Game 3.
For now, though, the Yankees have three games at Yankee Stadium and no margin for a prolonged stumble. Boone had four established starters to arrange, several injured players to evaluate and multiple postseason scenarios to consider.
After working through all of them, he settled on the pitcher who carried the heaviest workload and delivered the best numbers in the rotation.
Tuesday night, Schlittler gets the first chance to turn that regular-season performance into October results.
