​Washington, D.C. — Cam Schlittler could have been slated to start the All-Star Game, but he won’t be appearing in Tuesday’s exhibition at all. The Yankees’ emerging ace is healthy, manager Aaron Boone said Sunday morning, yet Schlittler, who allowed two earned runs over 6.2 innings and 99 pitches against the Nationals on Saturday, voiced concerns about pitching with intensity on what would otherwise be a between-start throw day.
“He came in today, talked to me about it, and made that decision,” Boone said before the Yankees’ final game before the break. “Just feels like, on his recovery day, to go back out there throwing 100 mph is something that he felt a little apprehensive about. So I certainly support that decision, and obviously, he understands what’s at stake here in the second half for us and for him. I’m certainly supportive of his decision.”
With an American League-leading 2.05 ERA and a 3.5 fWAR that ranks second only to Toronto’s Dylan Cease, Schlittler had been viewed as the favorite to start for the Junior Circuit. Boone wanted to ensure that the first-time All-Star gave his decision serious consideration—and Schlittler did, Boone indicated.
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” Boone said. “He feels good. He feels normal today post-outing. But I just wanted him to be thoughtful in how he came to that decision, and certainly, we support him wholeheartedly.” Boone added that Schlittler’s choice “could have gone either way,” noting that on Saturday the 25-year-old appeared to be weighing the option about pitching in the Midsummer Classic.
“We’ll see what happens in the next day or two, and if I’m comfortable doing that, then I’ll do that,” the right-hander had said at the time. After the Yankees had ripened a three-game winning streak following a stretch where they lost 15 of 20, Schlittler offered a candid reality about the situation: “Not gonna lie, I’m not too worried about [pitching in the All-Star Game]. I’ve got more things to worry about in terms of just this team and how we’ve been playing, and I like how it’s been the last couple days.”
Boone stressed that Schlittler is physically fine, and the Yankees are certainly relieved that he’s choosing to rest his prized arm. Schlittler, coming off a career-high workload last season of 149.2 innings across the majors and minors, already sits at 118.2 innings this year. The team’s rotation is dealing with a cascade of fatigue and injury concerns. Will Warren, Sunday’s starter, is also coming off a career-high workload; Ryan Weathers has already surpassed his innings total from last season; and Gerrit Cole is nine major league starts removed from Tommy John surgery. The depth-challenged Yankees are already without Carlos Rodón (elbow inflammation) and Max Fried (elbow bone bruise), so another rotation issue would be particularly disruptive.
Boone also noted Fried’s recent live batting practice session as a positive step during his ongoing rehabilitation, underscoring how the club is trying to manage workloads carefully while navigating the physical realities of a compressed schedule. The decision regarding Schlittler’s All-Star involvement reflects a broader approach: preserve a young ace’s health and long-term effectiveness while balancing the urgent need for strong starting pitching depth down the stretch.