The New York Yankees’ starting rotation has achieved a Major League-best 2.74 earned run average, with Cam Schlittler playing a key role, according to a May 4 report. The team has recorded 195 strikeouts over 34 starts and limited opponents to just 59 earned runs in nearly 195 innings.
Schlittler’s pitching repertoire, which includes a four-seamer, cutter, and sinker, has proven difficult for hitters this season. Opponents are batting .148 against those pitches and have managed only one home run. Schlittler has also improved his control by reducing his walks per nine innings from 3.8 last year to just 1.3 in the current season.
Reflecting on his performance against the Mariners on April 1, Schlittler said: “I got to the seventh, a lot of strikeouts, no walks, two hits. I was effective. I put the team in a spot to win. I try to mimic that success on the mound. I like limiting walks and limiting the damage.”
Teammate Ben Rice praised Schlittler’s demeanor: “He is very composed out there – this year, especially,” Rice said. “He has been super calm and collected every time he is out there on the mound… He trusts himself. He trusts his stuff.”
Schlittler will face Baltimore next at Yankee Stadium after holding them to one run over two starts last year for an earned run average of just 0.73 with fifteen strikeouts across twelve-plus innings.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone described Schlittler’s recent form as dominant: “Last year, [he] was excellent and… put a stamp on it with kind of an historic postseason performance that has kind of been in line with who he has been now to start this year… He has been as good as anyone in the sport to start this year.”
