Cam Schlittler Should Start for the Yankees
Bet on stuff
Ryan Yarbrough is going to be down for a bit. Luis Gil is still at ways away from returning. The Yankees need another starter. I think it should be Cam Schlittler.
Alan Winans got the start yesterday. He was the only real option available on two days notice. To be fair, Winans had a 0.90 ERA at Triple-A, but he’s a 29 year-old journeyman whose fastball averages 89. He’s a Quad-A guy at best. He should go right back down.
The other ready options are Brubaker and Stroman. Brubaker might work, but Stroman is cooked. He’s another guy who throws 89.
Schlittler should be a no-brainer here. He’s a 6’6” 225 lbs college righty. 24 years old. He started the 2025 season as pretty much the best pitching prospect in the Yankees farm system. He pitched a full 120 inning workload in 2024. Basically, he’s a real prospect.
His 2025 season is going about as well as you could ask for. 68 innings with a 2.35 ERA, 11.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 between Double-A and Triple-A. He was promoted two weeks ago and struck out 24 batters in 15 innings.
He’s also got great stuff. Here’s his pitch mix at Triple-A (3 starts):
His 4-seam fastball velocity would rank 16th in the majors among starters. His fastball spin would rank around 40th. The curveball and slider were graded as plus by scouts this offseason. Real major league stuff.
Schlittler is a very conventional starter to call up. He’s a good prospect with great stuff having a great season. Maybe you would want to give him a few more Triple-A starts in an ideal world, but there’s no obvious red flags that he needs to address.
Calling him up feels like a real no-brainer to me. The upside is pretty big: you get another young, cost-controlled starting pitcher for the next six years. He could even be really good! There aren’t a lot of major league players who are 6’6” with his stuff. Even if he’s merely okay, you could have another long-term back end starter to complement Will Warren.
The downside? He has a few bad starts and you send him back to Triple-A. I guess his trade value could take a hit.
We’ll see what the Yankees do. I feel like we’re headed for another Marcus Stroman call up, but they could prove me wrong. Schlittler is scheduled to start on Wednesday. The Yankees have an off day, so they could push the Winans spot back to meet his next start after that.
Not yet. He is not quite ready. Still too many pitches. But if he has another good start tomorrow night, then I gotta think about starting him next Monday or Tuesday in Toronto. But that also means pitching at least tonight's SP, Rodón, on 4 days rest, Sunday against the A's. But then I'd move Stroman to the 60 day to make 40 man roster room.
Results from tonight: Schlittler pitched 6 innings and did not allow a run . He gave up one hit and struck out 9. I would say he is ready for a shot in the majors.