Welcome home, Cam Schlittler.
For the first time since October — when he became forever endeared to the fan base with a dominant performance in a win-or-go-home playoff game against his hometown Red Sox, then was merely OK in an AL Division Series loss to the Blue Jays — the young right-hander who is pitching like a budding ace will take the mound again in The Bronx.
Schlittler, who mowed down batters in San Francisco and Seattle to begin his season, will get the ball when the Yankees host the Athletics on Tuesday night.
On display will be a cutter that has been tweaked and is being thrown harder, which adds a third fastball type to a repertoire that already was led by upper 90s four-seamers and two-seamers.
He is throwing with more velocity than ever — his average pitch has registered 95.1 mph, which entered play Monday behind only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (95.9) and Cincinnati’s Chase Burns (95.1) among starters who had thrown at least 100 pitches — and has carried over the command he had displayed as he rose through the Yankees’ system throwing in the low 90s.
That marriage of overpowering stuff and pinpoint control helped him strike out 15 without allowing a run or a walk against the Giants and Mariners, the first pitcher in franchise history to accomplish this in a two-game span.
“His calling card since he got in the organization was his ability to throw strikes with his fastball, especially,” manager Aaron Boone said recently. “And now, as he’s gone to another level from a stuff standpoint, that’s really served him well.”
The 25-year-old, who was slightly behind in spring training due to a back issue, took down 5 ¹/₃ and 6 ¹/₃ innings despite throwing just 68 and 79 pitches, respectively, in his first two games as he continues to stretch out.
He probably will not be asked to throw 100-plus pitches Tuesday, but his command has ensured he has been able to pitch deep enough into the games to log a couple of wins.
“Just attack the zone and do what I can to get as far as I can with limited pitches,” Schlittler said in Seattle.
Schlittler was cheered loudly when he was introduced during the home opener, and the ovations should be louder for Schlittler Day.
Ben Rice (who hit .421 with three homers, nine RBIs and a 1.645 OPS) was a runner-up for American League Player of the Week, which went to Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (.471, three homers, eight RBIs, 1.733 OPS).
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