Cam Schlittler demonstrated resilience Saturday, pitching into the seventh inning and helping the New York Yankees secure a 4-2 victory over the Nationals in their final game before the All-Star break. Despite surrendering two solo home runs in the first inning, Schlittler rebounded to prevent further scoring, closing out his first half with a 2.05 ERA and strengthening his case for the American League Cy Young Award.
Schlittler's performance, which saw him pitch 6 ²/₃ innings and strike out six batters while walking four, kept the Yankees within striking distance. Trent Grisham later provided the go-ahead runs with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. "Good pitchers are going to battle through that or you’re going to crumble," Schlittler said of his early struggles. "I feel like I can take today as a win in terms of making those adjustments and getting deeper into the game than I probably should’ve been."
Schlittler's strong first half, characterized by his reliance on three types of fastballs, has positioned him as a potential starter for the upcoming All-Star Game. Manager Aaron Boone indicated before the game that Schlittler had a "good chance" of pitching in the exhibition, though the pitcher stated he had not yet received official confirmation. "If I’m comfortable doing that, then I’ll do that," Schlittler said. "It’d be a cool experience."
Meanwhile, pitcher David Bednar recorded his 18th save of the season, extending his personal scoreless streak to a career-long 19 innings. "I think just finding my form and being aggressive," Bednar said of his recent success. "Being aggressive in the zone and trusting all three of my pitches."
In other team news, Max Fried, who has been dealing with a left elbow bone bruise, threw approximately 45 pitches in a simulated game. If his recovery progresses favorably, he is expected to begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break, with a potential return to the Yankees in early August.