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The next time Cam Schlittler takes the mound, it will be the playoffs, and even though he’s never pitched in the postseason, the young right-hander has certainly looked like a pitcher built for October.
Asked if he’d be confident handing Schlittler the ball in the playoffs following another superb outing Saturday against the Orioles, Aaron Boone said, “Yes, absolutely.”
And why not?
The hard-throwing rookie, making just his 14th MLB start, dominated a dead-looking Orioles team in a 6-1 win in The Bronx.
He set career highs by pitching seven innings and striking out nine.
Schlittler didn’t allow a run and walked just one in the 97-pitch outing, six days after holding the Orioles to one run in 5 ¹/₃ innings at Camden Yards last Sunday.
Also important, the one time Schlittler ran into trouble Saturday, when he hit two batters in the top of the fifth, he recovered to get Jackson Holliday to ground out to end the inning.
Now, the Yankees have to decide whether to start the 24-year-old who still was at Double-A in early June and didn’t make his debut in the majors until July 9.
Against the Orioles this time, Schlittler was tasked with putting the Yankees in position to stay alive in the AL East and he impressed again.
“Obviously, I knew the situation after [Friday], and that was a little bit of pressure,’’ Schlittler said. “That’s something I enjoy and want to pitch through.”
He’s using that type of game as preparation for the postseason.
“It’s high stakes right now,” Schlittler said. “Obviously, I don’t have experience in the playoffs. I’m aware of the situation, but that’s over with now and I’ve got to focus on next week.”
Schlittler said the pressure “locks me in a little bit more. I enjoy everything that comes with that, whether it’s good or bad. I make sure I handle it the right way and take it into next week.”
That’s when either Schlittler or Luis Gil — Sunday’s starter — likely will be called upon after Max Fried and Carlos Rodón get the first two starts, whether they come in the wild-card round or the ALDS.
He won’t have the luxury of pitching against the wildly disappointing Orioles in the playoffs, but the Yankees think he’s ready.
“I love it,’’ Aaron Judge said of what he’s seen from Schlittler. “He’s been impressive all year. Besides the arsenal he has, each start he’s becoming a better pitcher, reading swings and knowing what to throw.”
Given his repertoire, Boone said it was natural that Schlittler wouldn’t shy away from pitching in big spots.
“You walk out there with that equipment and I’d be confident, too,” the manager said. “There’s a humility to him. He doesn’t think he has everything figured out. He does have confidence with a real good competitiveness. That’s a good combination.”
Pitching through the seventh also allowed the Yankees to “reset” their bullpen, according to Boone, as they head into a critical Game 162.
“He really gave us a shot in the arm in the rotation when he came up,” Boone said. “He’s a big reason we’re in the position we’re in.”
