Cam Schlittler has been a completely different pitcher for the New York Yankees at home — and he knows that more than anyone.
Schlittler entered Monday’s start against the St. Louis Cardinals with a pedestrian 3.83 ERA across 9 starts at home. That number rose even higher after the standout second-year pitcher gave up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 5 walks across just 3.0 innings of work at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y.
The Yankees came back from a 6-0 hole to take a 7-6 lead through 7 innings. But New York’s bullpen imploded in the 8th inning, as the visitors ran away with a 13-7 victory.
A frustrated Schlittler spoke to reporters after the game, lamenting his ineffectiveness thus far when playing in front of home fans.
“I feel fine. [I] didn’t get in that rhythm,” Schlittler said, via the New York Post’s Dan Martin and Brian Lewis. “I’ve just got to be better. Things have been a lot easier on the road. I feel like I’ve been dominant on the road and haven’t been able to do that here. And it’s frustrating. At some point, we’ve got to make an adjustment, and I’ve got to perform in front of the fans.”
“The bad ones I have are always here, and that’s frustrating. Things should be easier here playing in front of our fans,’’ Schlittler continued. “Frustrating for them, too. They come here expecting good performances and not being able to deliver. I’ve got another opportunity Sunday and just got to be better.”
Schlittler’s home ERA ballooned to 4.32 after Monday’s loss.
Compare that to his road numbers, where the AL Cy Young candidate has been borderline untouchable with a 1.10 ERA and 0.74 WHIP across 14 games.
