​The American League’s top starting pitcher this season will not take the mound in Tuesday’s 2026 MLB All-Star Game. New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler informed the team that he would not pitch in the midsummer classic, a decision manager Aaron Boone shared with reporters on Sunday. Schlittler entered the season as a frontrunner to start for the AL, carrying a league-best 2.05 ERA through 20 starts. He has posted a 9-5 record with 137 strikeouts across 118 2/3 innings.
Boone stressed that Schlittler’s choice is not rooted in health concerns or fatigue. Instead, the 25-year-old prefers not to push into game-level intensity on what would be his bullpen day between starts on Tuesday. “He came in today, talked to me about it, made that decision,” Boone said, citing The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty. “He feels a little apprehensive about going back out there throwing 100 mph on recovery day.”
Schlittler took the ball on Saturday in the Yankees’ 4-2 win against the Washington Nationals, giving up 2 runs and 4 hits over 6 2/3 innings. He matched a season high with four walks and threw 99 pitches in the outing.
Even as he opts out of pitching in the All-Star Game, Schlittler plans to attend the event. Several of his teammates were named to the American League squad, including catcher Ben Rice and outfielder Cody Bellinger. Schlittler told the New York Daily News that he aims to serve as Rice’s “Gatorade guy” during Monday’s Home Run Derby. He will also have several family members — his parents and siblings — in attendance at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park to support him and the AL contenders.
Schlittler’s decision to forgo pitching in the All-Star Game places him alongside other notable stars who have chosen not to participate in the exhibition. Earlier this season, Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani also opted out of playing in the All-Star Game, making Schlittler one of the most prominent newcomers to join this growing list of players prioritizing rest or focusing on personal goals during the midseason showcase.