New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave an update on right-hander Cam Schlittler’s status for Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, a notable shift from the optimism he expressed within the last 24 hours, since starting pitcher Cam Schlittler took to the mound on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.
Schlittler has decided that he will not pitch in the Midsummer Classic, Boone told reporters ahead of New York’s series finale against the Nationals, a departure from Saturday's comments when the manager said there was a “good chance” Schlittler would take the mound for the American League.
Boone said that Schlittler decided against pitching in the All-Star Game so as not to push himself between starts.
Schlittler, 25, has been one of the AL's best pitchers this season, with a 9-5 record in 20 starts, leading the AL with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.944 WHIP. In 118.2 innings, Schlittler has struck out 137 batters and allowed 27 earned runs. His performance has been a significant factor in the team's success this season, as the rotation has been limited by injuries.
Schlittler had downplayed his chances of pitching in the game even before Sunday's update, saying the team's needs would come first. Boone's initial comments on Saturday were tied to how Schlittler's throw days lined up around his last start before the break against the Nationals.
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Schlittler will instead turn his attention to the Yankees' first series out of the break, a matchup against West Coast rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the schedule Boone had floated on Saturday as an alternative if the All-Star appearance didn’t work out.
