Cam Schlittler leads the American League in ERA and WAR, stats that define a legitimate ace. Yet the Bronx treats him differently. He threw just 4.1 innings and surrendered three runs in a recent loss to the Dodgers. Now he faces a St. Louis Cardinals team that has run cold since the All-Star Break. This game on Monday at Yankee Stadium will tell us if Schlittler can fix his home issues.
Does the stadium matter?
A Tale of Two Starts
Schlittler looks like a different pitcher when he leaves the Bronx. According to Pinstripe Alley, he has surrendered just 11 earned runs in 89.2 innings away from home. That is elite stuff that makes him a top pitcher in the league. But the numbers flip when he pitches in New York. He recently had a short outing against the Dodgers where he could not get out of the early innings. The Cardinals lineup is struggling right now, so this is the perfect time to prove he belongs on the mound here.
St. Louis isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.
The Cards Are Cold
The opposition is not firing on all cylinders either. Per Pinstripe Alley, the Cardinals lineup has run cold since the All-Star Break. They will send Michael McGreevy to the mound to try and stop the bleeding. He is one of three right-handers the Yankees will face in this series. Dustin May and Andre Pallante are also in the rotation for St. Louis. The game starts at 6:05pm central time on Monday, and fans can watch it on Cardinals.tv. It is a low-scoring affair waiting to happen if both teams keep making mistakes.
Schlittler has the stats to win this game if he can just find his groove. The Cardinals are tired and cold, which gives the Yankees a real edge. If Schlittler can match his road form at home, the Yankees should take this one easily. But if he crumbles again, the fans will have a lot to say about the rotation. This is the kind of game that separates good seasons from great ones for the Bronx Bombers.
