Yankees Rotation Already Feeling the Strain as Cam Schlittler Deals with Back Inflammation
Spring training has barely begun, and the New York Yankees are already facing a familiar foe: injuries to their starting rotation. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are both expected to miss time early in the regular season due to elbow issues, and now another key arm is being sidelined-at least temporarily.
Cam Schlittler, the breakout star of the Yankees’ 2025 postseason run, is dealing with inflammation in the middle of his back, according to manager Aaron Boone. Boone noted that Schlittler has “felt a tweak here and there,” and while he’ll be kept off the mound for now, he’ll continue throwing as the team monitors his status.
For a rotation that’s already missing its two front-line starters, the timing isn’t ideal. But there’s no sense of panic in the Bronx just yet.
Schlittler burst onto the scene last July, making his MLB debut and quickly becoming a stabilizing force in a rotation that was reeling after Clarke Schmidt went down with a UCL injury. In 14 regular-season starts, Schlittler posted a 2.96 ERA-an impressive mark for any rookie, let alone one thrust into a high-leverage role on a playoff-contending team.
But it was the postseason where he truly made his name. In the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Schlittler delivered eight scoreless innings to eliminate New York’s longtime rivals. That performance didn’t just send the Yankees to the next round-it cemented Schlittler as a pitcher with serious poise under pressure.
So while this back issue is a setback, it’s far from catastrophic. The Yankees still have over a month before Opening Day, and Schlittler isn’t part of Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster, which gives him ample time to ramp up without rushing. The regular season begins March 25 against the San Francisco Giants, and the expectation is that Schlittler will be ready to pitch in that opening series.
Yankees fans have every reason to be excited about what Schlittler could bring in 2026. He didn’t just fill a rotation spot last year-he helped save the Yankees’ season. His strong second half was a major reason the team clawed its way into a tie with the Toronto Blue Jays atop the AL East.
Even his final start of the regular season, while not flawless, showed his ability to battle. He gave up eight hits and two earned runs over 6.1 innings against Toronto-a gritty performance that underscored his reliability in big moments.
For now, the Yankees will play it safe with their young right-hander. Given the current state of the rotation, they’ll need him healthy and ready when the games start to count. If Schlittler can build on what he showed last year, he could be more than just a fill-in-he could be a difference-maker.