The New York Yankees finally stopped the bleeding on Saturday, snapping a seven-game losing streak. But the good news didn’t stop there. The team also learned which of their players made the All-Star roster. One of those guys is pitcher Cam Schlittler, and it’s his first time getting the nod. Only one problem. Nobody’s sure if he’ll actually throw a pitch in the game.
According to reporter Brendan Kuty, neither Schlittler nor manager Aaron Boone has committed to the 25-year-old taking the mound at the All-Star Game. The issue is scheduling. Schlittler is set to start on Monday, and if he goes again five days later, that puts him on the mound July 11. The All-Star Game is July 14. That date falls right in the window where he’d normally just be doing a between-starts bullpen session.
So the question is pretty straightforward: does the team want him skipping a start or altering his routine just to throw an inning or two in a exhibition game? The answer, right now, is no.
Schlittler’s season has been legit
This isn’t some feel-good participation pick. Schlittler has earned the honor. Through his first 18 starts, he’s got a 2.08 ERA, 123 strikeouts, and an 8-5 record. Those are real numbers. The kind that get you noticed even when your team is going through a rough stretch. And the Yankees have been going through one of those, for sure.
Schlittler talked about what the All-Star selection means to him personally. He was measured about it, like a guy who knows the job isn’t done yet.
“It’s a great feeling, obviously,” he said, via SNY Yankees. “You know, can’t really thank, you know, my teammates and coaches [enough], kind of just for the position they put me in, and just being able to succeed on the field. So, again, I don’t like the stretch of play that we’re in right now, but it’s good to, you know, be aware of that, and definitely something to be proud about.”
It’s a weird tension, right? He’s proud to be an All-Star, but the team is in a slump, and he’s not about to let personal glory override the bigger picture. That’s basically the vibe.
Team first, even at the All-Star Game
When asked directly about pitching in the game, Schlittler kept it simple. No grand promises. No guarantees. Just honest.
“We’ll see again. Team comes first, priorities, so if it lines up, it lines up, and if it doesn’t, that’s fine as well,” he said.
That’s about as straightforward as it gets. The Yankees need him to be fresh for the second half. They need his arm for the stretch run. If missing a few innings in a midsummer showcase means he’s better in August and September, that’s a trade-off any team makes.
So as of now, it’s all conditional. Schlittler starts Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. If that goes well, the club will figure out whether July 14 is a work day or a rest day. For now, the All-Star Game is a maybe. And that’s fine with everyone involved.
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