In his third MLB start, Yankees' right-hander Cam Schlittler lasted 4.1 innings, yielding three runs on seven hits and four walks, with five strikeouts, in a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
NEW YORK – Decisions that alter pennant races and shape rebuilding clubs are rapidly being made.
MLB’s trade deadline, Thursday at 6 p.m., is a looming presence at Yankee Stadium, where Cam Schlittler’s third big-league start showed an unpolished pitcher with plenty of promise.
“He walks out there with a lot of weapons, starting with a high-90s, 100-mph fastball,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Monday night’s game against Tampa Bay.
Schlittler impressively flashed that 100-mph fastball against the Rays but also lost his command for a stretch and the Yankees ultimately lost another divisional game.
Also shaky in Monday’s first inning, Rays’ starter Drew Rasmussen found his stride in a 4-2 victory for a Tampa Bay team that had lost six of its previous seven games but remains in the postseason conversation.
And the Yankees’ malaise continues, with a 15-24 record since June 13, and an overall 11-19 record against AL East teams.
Yankees' options as MLB trade deadline nears
Leading the AL wild card field, but 5.5 games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays, these second-place Yankees were entering a critical 72-hour period Monday evening.
They remain confident of getting Aaron Judge (strained flexor) back in early August, so you’d expect GM Brian Cashman is still “going to town’’ to land an impact deal or two before Thursday evening.
One of Arizona's two impending free agents, Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly, could make a difference, as could Minnesota relievers Jhoan Duran and the lefty Danny Coulombe.
Maybe that won’t mean parting with Yankees’ slugging prospect Spencer Jones, but he’s clearly part of a lot of trade conversations – as are Schlittler and fellow right-handed starter Will Warren.
Both Schlittler and Warren are potential trade pieces, and the price to land controllable pitching – including starters Mitch Keller and Edward Cabrera - would be in this neighborhood of big-league ready talent.
Already, the Yankees have moved three not-top-tier pitching prospects, including one with limited MLB experience in Clayton Beeter, to land third baseman Ryan McMahon and utility man Amed Rosario.
Next on the agenda would be a starter capable of being in a playoff rotation and two relievers – preferably a right-hander with swing-and-miss ability and a durable lefty.
“We have no idea what’s going to happen,’’ said Cody Bellinger, speaking generally about the trade deadline period. “So, we’re just focused on what we can control, that’s all we can really do.’’
And that certainly goes for Schlittler, whose on-the-job MLB training is happening during a pinstriped pennant race.
The good part is that “he doesn’t seem like the game’s speeding up on him,’’ Bellinger said of Schlittler’s poise, finding him “fun’’ to play behind defensively.
“I think the stuff is really electric,’’ said Bellinger. “And he’s pretty confident.''
Trial by fire for Yankees' Cam Schlittler
After striking out Yandy Diaz on three pitches, the last one at 100-mph, for the second out in the first inning, Schlittler’s command vanished after a long at-bat versus Jonathan Aranda.
Drawing one of three walks yielded by Schlittler in the first, Aranda was on base when Junior Caminero lashed a hanging slider for a two-run homer.
After throwing nine straight pitches out of the strike zone, Schlittler ended the inning by inducing a 110-mph lineout to Bellinger in right field.
Between innings, Schlittler – charged with three runs in 4.1 innings – sought Max Fried’s advice on mechanics.
“The biggest thing is trying to work ahead (in the count) and limit the walks,’’ said Schlittler, who walked four batters and struck out five.
Meanwhile, a Judge-less lineup scored twice on bases-loaded walks in the first inning by a wobbly Rasmussen and the Yanks – out-hit 11-6 by the Rays - never truly threatened again.
Rasmussen retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced, and the Rays’ bullpen took it from there.
“Ultimately, we would like to be probably in a better spot,’’ Bellinger said of a club that once held a 7.5-game AL East lead. “For me, I’ve got confidence in the guys in here.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cam Schlittler could be part of the Yankees' pennant run or a trade chip as MLB's deadline nears
Category: Baseball
