Yankees Pitcher Cam Schlitzer Shines Before All-Star Break

Cam Schlitzer has quickly emerged as a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award, largely thanks to his impressive command of three types of fastballs. With the All-Star break approaching, he faced off against the Nationals—a team known for their proficiency in hitting fastballs.

The game on Saturday started poorly for Schlitzer, who gave up two solo home runs in the first inning. However, the Yankees managed to rally back, ultimately defeating the Nationals 4-2 and marking their third consecutive win.

Despite the rocky beginning, Schlitzer performed like a true ace, shutting out the Nationals for the remainder of the game. He wrapped up the first half of the season with an impressive 2.05 ERA, securing his starting spot in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Reflecting on his performance, Schlitzer remarked, “A good pitcher will fight through it or it will fall apart. I feel like we fell apart a little bit against Detroit.” He mentioned how today’s game felt like a victory due to the adjustments made, allowing him to pitch deeper than expected.

Although not at his peak, Schlitzer tied his season-high with four walks and racked up six strikeouts. As he continued into the later innings, he effectively supported the bullpen, completing 6.3 innings and keeping the Yankees in a position to secure the win.

Trent Grisham, who hit a crucial two-run homer in the eighth inning, shared some insight, saying, “I just hung in there, pitched, and competed.”

There’s a possibility that Schlitzer could make his next start in the All-Star Game, which would essentially act as a bullpen day between his regular starts.

Manager Aaron Boone indicated that there was a “good chance” Schlitzer would pitch, although the right-hander himself was uncertain. He expected to find out more within the next couple of days.

Schlitzer stated, “If I’m comfortable doing it, I’ll do it. It’s going to be a great experience. I have more concerns about the team’s performance lately, especially the way we’ve been playing.”

Meanwhile, David Bednar recorded his 18th save of the season, returning after pitching two innings to close out Friday’s victory. After a shaky start to the year, Bednar has since gone on a personal best streak of 19 scoreless innings.

He noted, “I think it’s just about finding my form and being aggressive. Trusting all three of my pitches ensures success.”

In injury news, Max Fried is set to throw around 45 pitches in a mock game at Double-A Somerset. If all goes well, he could start his rehab after the All-Star break, with hopes of returning to the Yankees by early August.