Yankees may not start Cam Schlittler in Game 1 of wild-card series…
Cam Schlittler is on his approach to the AL Cy Young, however that has not yet assured him the start in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series next week.
As of Wednesday, the Yankees have been still working by their plans for the rotation in the first round of the playoffs, with Aaron Boone only prepared to go so far as saying Schlittler would pitch in one of the first two games.
Asked if the Yankees have been lining up Schlittler, who’s slated to start Thursday against the Rays, for Game 1 of the wild-card series, Boone said, “not necessarily,” reasoning that whoever begins Game 1 or 2 would still be capable of pitch Games 2 and 5 of a possible ALDS.
“There’s like three or four different iterations of it, really, whether you go Cam or Max [Fried] Game 1 or 2, and then where you fit Carlos [Rodón] and Gerrit [Cole] in,” pitching coach Matt Blake said before the Yankees’ 9-2 blowout win over the Rays on Wednesday evening at the Stadium. (*1*)
Cam Schlittler, the AL Cy Young award favourite, may not end up beginning Game 1 of the Yankees’ AL wild-card series. Noah Ok. Murray / New York Post
Schlittler, who owns a 1.94 ERA, can be pitching on his fifth day if he began Tuesday’s Game 1, doubtless against the Red Sox. Cole, who began Wednesday evening, can be on his sixth day, while Fried and Rodón can be on their seventh day.
Blake acknowledged that “in a vacuum,” the Yankees would like their starter to be happening his sixth day, “but I don’t think that would necessarily dictate where they throw necessarily.”
“Whatever makes sense strategically we’ll probably go with because they’ll all have adequate rest,” Blake said. “Cam would be on the shortest for Game 1, but reasonable.”
Cole, who returned from Tommy John surgical procedure in May, picked up the win Wednesday evening to complete his season with a 10-9 report and a 3.61 ERA.
Fried has a 2.80 ERA and just acquired to his full clip of pitches Tuesday in his fifth start again from the IL, while Rodón dominated the Rays on Tuesday to decrease his ERA to 2.67.
“Obviously you’re looking at the whole body of work, but the last month or so is pretty telling of where guys are at physically and what they’re capable of doing down the stretch,” Blake said. “But there’s also with Gerrit, it’s not just the month, it’s knowing who he is. Carlos is obviously throwing the ball really well, Gerrit’s an historically good pitcher, threw the ball well in Arizona.”
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