Schlittler flashes high-octane stuff in up-and-down performance

NEW YORK – Cam Schlittler is rumored to be near the top of several wish lists as the Yankees engage in discussions ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline. Early in the right-hander’s big league career, it has been easy to see why.

With triple-digit heat that has already registered the hardest fastballs thrown by any Yankee this season, Schlittler is showcasing plenty to dream upon. But he’s also raw and learning, as evidenced by a fifth-inning exit from New York’s 4-2 loss to the Rays on Monday evening at Yankee Stadium.

“Hitters make quick adjustments. They’re going to make you pay if you’re not in the zone,” Schlittler said. “Not being able to execute the fastball allows them to lay off that pitch and focus on some other things. The biggest thing is just trying to work ahead and limiting the walks.”

The Yankees are still seeking reinforcements after adding third baseman Ryan McMahon and infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario this past week. But Monday marked their fourth loss in five games, and their sixth in 10 games since returning from the All-Star break.

The Yankees’ struggles within the division also continued. Their record fell to 11-19 against American League East rivals, which Yankees manager Aaron Boone has acknowledged is “not good enough” for a team hoping to repeat as division champions.

“We would like to be in a better spot, but it’s kind of where we’re at right now,” said Cody Bellinger. “For me, I’ve got confidence in the guys in here. I like showing up every day and going about it with these boys in this locker room. I think we’ve got a lot of really good baseball players in here. We’ve just got to keep focusing on what we can control.”

Schlittler got off to a shaky start. After retiring the first two batters on a groundout and a strikeout, Schlittler lost Jonathan Aranda to a nine-pitch walk.

“I actually thought Cam made a lot of good pitches against Aranda,” Boone said. “He kept spoiling, spoiling, spoiling.”

Schlittler fell behind Junior Caminero and hung a 2-1 slider that was belted to the left-center-field seats for Caminero’s 27th homer of the season. A pair of walks and a stolen base followed before Schlittler regained his rhythm, which the rookie credited Max Fried for helping unlock.

“I was talking to Max in between innings, just trying to get some small cues and see what I was feeling out there with the mechanics,” Schlittler said. “I think I was opening up a little bit.”

The Yankees briefly punched back, loading the bases against Drew Rasmussen in the first before Jazz Chisholm Jr. and McMahon worked run-scoring free passes. But that was most of the offense; the Bombers managed just one baserunner from the second through the seventh inning.

“We just weren’t able to mount enough, and couldn’t hold them down just enough,” Boone said.

Rated as the game’s No. 95 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, Schlittler blanked the Rays from the second into the fifth, when Josh Lowe knocked him out on an 0-2 fastball that caught too much plate and was lined for a go-ahead single to center.

“I think the first two [starts] were a lot better than today,” said Schlittler, who scattered seven hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out five in an 86-pitch effort (58 strikes).

Bellinger lauded Schlittler’s poise and “electric” arsenal, saying that he is “fun to play behind.”

Schlittler threw 62 fastballs (72%) in the outing. Boone noted that the next step in Schlittler’s development will be refining his secondary offerings – his slider (13%), curveball (8%), sweeper (6%) and sinker (1%) all appeared sparingly.

“I’m confident in the shapes. I think they’re good, plus pitches,” Schlittler said. “I’ve got to work on getting them in the zone a little bit more, putting them in better spots and better counts.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said that he will be “going to town” to fix what ails this roster. But the outlook has grown more complicated in recent days with Aaron Judge now sidelined by a right flexor strain.

The Yankees believe Judge avoided the worst – a UCL injury – but he’s recovering from a platelet-rich plasma injection, and his return date remains uncertain. Boone said the hope is Judge can resume swinging a bat by Aug. 5, the first day he’s eligible to return from the injured list.

In the meantime, the front office continues making calls. Bullpen help remains the top priority, though adding a starter or position player hasn’t been ruled out. On Monday, Yankees relievers covered 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball – though traffic was heavy in several of those frames.

“We have no idea really what’s going to happen,” Bellinger said. “So we’re focusing on what we can focus on. That’s all we can really do.”