Yankees Struggle After Early Pitching Change

Cam Schlitler put in a solid effort, but manager Aaron Boone decided to pull the rookie pitcher after just five innings, throwing only 86 pitches.

This decision contributed to the Yankees’ 4-1 loss to the Twins on Wednesday night in the Bronx.

In his outing, Schlittler gave up a single run on two hits and two walks, all while striking out six batters. However, with the game tied at 1-1, Boone called upon Yerry de los Santos to pitch in the sixth inning.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, de los Santos quickly surrendered two consecutive singles. Byron Buxton and Luke Cashal managed to reach base, and then Cody Clemens hit a two-run double that put the Yankees behind 3-1. De los Santos left the game without recording an out.

Mark Reiter Jr. came in next but also struggled, allowing an RBI double to Louis Lewis, extending the Twins’ lead to 4-1 later in the inning.

Boone reflected on the decision to pull Schlittler, saying, “It was like 52 pitches for him in the fourth and fifth. Buxton made him work hard, seeing so many pitches before hitting that double. I thought it was best to take him out at 86. Those last two innings took a toll.”

Despite his pitch count being manageable earlier—just 34 through three innings—Schlittler used up 29 pitches in the fourth and 23 in the fifth. Still, he managed to keep hard contact to a minimum, retiring four of five batters at one point.

Entering the game, Schlittler had averaged 88 pitches over five starts this year, and against the Twins, he hit those averages.

After the game, Schlittler acknowledged the situation, saying, “I’m a rookie, so I understand the need for consistency. I trust our bullpen.” He seemed to recognize the challenges of facing hitters like Buxton and the pressure of proving himself.

The Yankees remain confident in Schlittler’s potential. With veteran Marcus Stroman being sidelined for a rotation decision after Lewis Gill returned from the injured list, the team chose to keep Schlittler in the mix rather than reassign him to the bullpen or send him down to Triple A. They opted against trading for additional starters before the deadline.

On the season, Schlittler has managed to lower his ERA to 3.94. But the Yankees will continue to be cautious with his usage moving forward.

Boone concluded, “He set us up to win the game. I sometimes consult with pitchers, but tonight felt like the right moment to make a change.”