When the Yankees released Marcus Stroman last week, they did more than cut ties with a struggling veteran.
They also demonstrated a show of faith in rookie starter Cam Schlittler, choosing to move forward with the flame-throwing right-hander in their rotation despite his lack of MLB experience.
Schlittler continued to reward that faith on Friday night in the Bronx.
In his fifth career start, the 24-year-old Schlittler limited the American League West-leading Houston Astros to two runs over five innings, taking a no-decision in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss in 10 innings.
Jose Altuve tagged Schlittler for a two-run home run in the top of the first, but Schlittler bounced back to keep Houston off the board from there.
Armed with a fastball he dialed up to 99.7 mph, Schlittler worked around seven hits and a walk over a career-high 97 pitches.
He recorded three strikeouts and 11 swings and misses against a battle-tested Astros lineup that was without Yordan Alvarez (hand) and Isaac Paredes (hamstring) but that still boasts plenty of firepower with Altuve, Jeremy Peña and the recently re-acquired Carlos Correa.
Schlittler stranded a runner in scoring position in each of his final three frames, including the fifth, when he induced an inning-ending flyout by Christian Walker to leave Altuve at third base.
It was significant for Schlittler to limit the damage on a night Hunter Brown — a first-time All-Star and Cy Young contender — was on the mound for Houston.
The Yankees trailed, 2-0, when Schlittler exited, but they rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning, ensuring Schlittler would not factor in the decision.
After losing ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to season-ending elbow surgeries, the Yankees did not acquire a starting pitcher before last week’s MLB trade deadline. During that week of dealing, the Yankees held onto Schlittler, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as their No. 3 prospect.
Still, the Yankees faced a rotation crunch ahead of right-hander Luis Gil’s return last weekend from a high-grade lat strain that cropped up during spring training. Schlittler had made only three MLB starts at that point.
But the Yankees opted to release the 34-year-old Stroman — a two-time All-Star with a 6.23 ERA in nine starts this season — and roll into the stretch run with a rotation of Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Gil, Schlittler and another promising rookie in right-hander Will Warren.
Schlittler held the Miami Marlins to two runs in five innings with six strikeouts last weekend in his first start after that decision.
With Friday’s performance, Schlittler lowered his ERA to 4.38 and now has 24 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. He is yet to exceed 5.1 innings in a start in the majors, but he has not allowed more than three runs in any of his outings. Friday’s start marked Schlittler’s first time issuing one walk or fewer.
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