Cam Schlittler didn’t just settle things down on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He wiped away the mess from his last outing.
After a shaky start against the St. Louis Cardinals last week, the Yankees ace delivered what former Mets and Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino called a “full correction” on the YES Network following New York’s 2-1 loss in 10 innings.
“It’s been incredible to watch, I mean what a characteristic it is to have. The ability to bounce back and to not let things fester and snowball,” Ottavino said after Schlittler worked seven scoreless innings, struck out 11, allowed three hits and did not issue a walk. Eight of those strikeouts came on fastballs.
Ottavino also pointed to how different Schlittler looked compared with his previous start.
“He was falling off the mound pretty hard in that previous start, he was definitely a little bit out of whack.”
That issue showed up in the Cardinals game last Monday, when Schlittler was drifting toward first base, walked five and gave up four earned runs in a 13-7 loss. He told NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch on Friday that the problem was obvious.
“Yeah, it was pretty obvious,” Schlittler told Klapisch. “It’s something that’s happened before, but I’m usually able to reel it in.
For some reason, I couldn’t (against the Cardinals.). I kept falling off (towards first base).
“I mean, I’d get to 0-2 or 1-2 and then I’d throw two or three waste pitches. Suddenly it’s a full count and that’s when it becomes a battle. It’s a whole different game when you can’t get ahead (of hitters).”
Against Atlanta, though, Schlittler made the fix right away. According to YES, it was the third time this season he has answered a four-run outing with a strong start in his next appearance. In those three games, he has allowed just one run total while striking out 24 and walking one.
“You would think it would be a slight correction back in this game,” Ottavino said. “No, he. made the full correction back.
No walks, attacking everybody. Just impressive to see how he can continue to make adjustments and stay on the tracks.”
The Yankees, however, couldn’t back him up. Trent Grisham’s solo homer accounted for their only run, and New York left runners in scoring position in the final two innings without getting the hit it needed.
The offensive issues have been dragging on. The Yankees have scored two runs or fewer in seven of their last 10 games, and over that stretch they are 6-for-68 (.088) with runners in scoring position.
“[Schlittler] did absolutely fantastic,” former Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier said on YES. “The Yankees bats did not come alive today, and that’s something that’s been ongoing.”
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