WASHINGTON – Before John Schneider could snub Cam Schlittler for an All-Star start, the Yankees ace took himself out of the running.
After thinking for weeks that he would pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday – and potentially even start it, before Schneider, managing the AL team, decided to go with his own pitcher in Dylan Cease – Schlittler walked into Aaron Boone’s office on Sunday morning and informed him that he had decided he wanted to pass.
“The staff’s had a lot of injuries this year, so between Gerrit [Cole] and Max [Fried] and now Carlos [Rodón], don’t want to put that risk in there of letting the team down,” Schlittler said after a 5-3 win at Nationals Park. “If I were to not recover the right way and I’m dragging a little bit, then that wouldn’t have benefitted anyone.
“After the game [Saturday], just thought about it, and my priorities are to the team and how I can help this team win a championship. I wasn’t comfortable enough that I was going to recover 100 percent to try to go out there for an inning and try to throw as hard as I can.”
Schlittler, who said he feels “really good” physically, will technically be available to pitch as long as he remains on the AL roster, but in all likelihood he will not get into the game.
Schneider told Blue Jays reporters on Sunday that he was going to start Cease “regardless” of Schlittler’s availability and informed MLB of his decision on Saturday night (Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League).
Schlittler and Boone both said that the Yankees right-hander’s decision came before they knew about Schneider starting Cease.
“Congrats to Dylan, he’s been great this year, he deserves that,” Schlittler said. “[But] that decision had nothing to do with my decision.”
Schlittler finished the first half with the lowest ERA in the AL – 2.05 compared to Cease’s 2.56, having thrown 20 1/3 more innings.
But Schlittler’s 118 2/3 innings across 20 starts already have him on pace to blow past his previous career-high (149 2/3 innings last season), which may have played a role in his decision, especially at a time when the Yankees already have Fried and Rodón on the IL.
The AL Cy Young favorite is also expected to pitch in the Yankees’ showdown against the Dodgers next weekend.
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“Obviously he understands what’s at stake here in the second half for us and for him,” Boone said. “I’m certainly supportive of his decision.”
Tuesday would have been Schlittler’s between-starts bullpen day, but that is different than throwing in the All-Star Game, even if it only would have been an inning.
“I think the adrenaline there, it was probably going to be like 110 percent [effort],” Schlittler said. “And that’s where you get a little bit nervous. I feel really good, so I’m not worried about that at all. I’m on the roster and if I need to throw, I’ll throw. Just going to show up there, prepare the way I usually prepare and we’re gonna see how it goes.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
