There’s no denying the Yankees lineup is a mess.
But if their batting order gets it together in time for October, Cam Schlittler showed again in Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning loss to Atlanta that he looks to be up to the task of shutting down a postseason-worthy lineup.
And that’s whether he’s at home or away from the Stadium.
After a poor performance in his last start, which came in The Bronx against St. Louis, Schlittler, unprompted, said, “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.”
Heading into Sunday, Schlittler was 8-2 with a 1.10 ERA in 14 road starts on the season, compared to 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 10 starts at the Stadium.
Versus Atlanta, Schlittler rebounded from what Aaron Boone called “arguably his worst” start of what’s been an outstanding season.
Coming back from a start in which Schlittler allowed a season-high five walks — as well as four runs — in just three innings against the Cardinals in a home loss, he returned to ace-like form in The Bronx against the Braves on Sunday, giving up one run in seven innings, while striking out 11 and not walking a batter.
“There’s a big chance that stuff is a coincidence,’’ Schlittler said of the difference in performance away from home compared to the Stadium.
Asked why this one may have been different, Schlittler said, “I was more locked in. It was a day game against a really good team and was able to limit distractions.”
But he wasn’t able to help the Yankees get a victory.
Because of the Yankees’ continued struggles to score runs, Schlittler found out that even though he was just one pitch away from a masterpiece, it was enough to put the team in a hole.
He whiffed five of the first six batters he faced, overpowering Atlanta’s lineup with fastballs.
The right-hander pitched around a leadoff double by Mike Yastrzemski in the third and had struck out Matt Olson twice in his first two at-bats.
Yankees Merch Shop
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
After sticking to the outside part of the plate in the first- and fourth-inning matchups with Olson, Schlittler changed up his approach a bit in the seventh. Schlittler fell behind 2-0 with a pair of sinkers, before leaving a 100 mph four-seamer over the middle of the plate.
Olson hammered it out to right-center for the game’s first run.
“He was able to clip it,’’ Schlittler said.
But as far as the rest of the 25-year-old’s performance went on another sweltering day at the Stadium, the Yankees were encouraged.
“Cam was dominant,’’ Boone said. “Up there with as good as he’s been all year, which is saying something. He was excellent.”
He had double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season. Each time he’s accomplished the feat, he’s done so without issuing a walk.
“I tried to be more locked in and in control of what I can control,’’ Schlittler said. “I had a good mentality and routine.”
He just couldn’t help the Yankees lineup.
