With Marcus Stroman struggling, Yankees fans wonder when Cam Schlittler will debut

CINCINNATI The New York Yankees have not committed to Marcus Stroman returning to their rotation after his latest rehab assignment start, which was expected to be his last.

Stroman was uninspiring Tuesday night with Double-A Somerset, allowing 10 hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

He has a 6.97 ERA over three rehab starts, but even more alarming than the poor results is Stromans lack of precision with his command.

Advertisement At this stage of his career, if Stroman cant command his pitches, its nearly impossible for him to have success in the major leagues.

Since the start of 2024, Stromans Stuff+ ranked fourth-worst among all MLB starters with at least 150 innings.

A waning ability to hit his spots combined with underwhelming stuff wouldnt inspire much confidence every fifth day if he were to return to the Yankees rotation.

The Yankees are weighing this decision after Ryan Yarbrough was placed on the injured list Sunday with an oblique strain, which will likely sideline him through the All-Star break.

But the Yankees have yet to say Stroman will return Sunday versus the Athletics theyre listing the days probable starter as TBA so its possible the veteran remains in Somerset, delaying his comeback.

Its a conversation to see where were at, Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said earlier this week.

I think thats the two main guys (Allan Winans and Stroman) in conversation for that spot with Yarbrough on the IL.

As a group, well figure out what makes sense for us from an inventory standpoint, when is Marcus ready to come back, all of those things.

I dont think we know for sure what were going to do after this outing.

On Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone echoed Blakes uncertainty about Stroman coming back Sunday.

Winans pitched Monday in the first game against the Cincinnati Reds.

He was outstanding the first time through their order, getting through three innings unscathed at just 24 pitches.

But he unraveled the second time through the order and finished with four runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings.

Winans has been spectacular this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, pitching to a 0.90 ERA across nine starts.

Blake said the biggest difference for Winans this year has been the command with his changeup, his best pitch, particularly against left-handed hitters.

Like Stroman, Winans doesnt possess elite stuff.

His fastball sits 89 to 90 mph.

Yarbrough also doesnt come equipped with overpowering velocity, but he has success because of a funky arm slot that is deceiving to opposing hitters.

Advertisement One pitcher who is not in consideration for a call-up soon to fill the vacancy in the rotation is Cam Schlittler, whom The Athletic s Keith Law ranked as the Yankees No.

8 prospect before the season.

After being promoted in early June, the tall righty is catching the attention of evaluators and the Yankees organization with his results at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In his most recent outing against Bostons Triple-A team which includes Kristian Campbell, whom the Boston Red Sox recently demoted Schlittler struck out nine (including Campbell three times) across six scoreless innings while his fastball touched 99 mph.

Schlittler has a 1.69 ERA over four starts in Triple A, and each of his five pitches has graded above average in Stuff+.

Get out your Camera.

#Yankees No.

10 prospect Cam Schlittler matched a career-best with nine strikeouts over six shutout innings.

6.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 1 BB | 9 K #WhereLegendsRise #RepBX pic.twitter.com/Lxi2l8SyCo SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) June 26, 2025 Blake said Yankees fans will probably not see Schlittler in the big leagues in the real near term.

But given that hes pitching in Triple A with above-average stuff, he is closing in on making his major-league debut.

Blake said theres a legitimate possibility Schlittler could be with the Yankees in the second half of the season.

I think so, Blake said.

Obviously, its a bigger conversation with the front office and our development group about how hes really handing Triple A, but I just thought his presence in our minor leagues and in spring training games, having to take four or five starts against A lineups, he held his own and has kept getting better as the season has gone on.

As he keeps posting starts and keeps showing that hes commanding the ball the way he needs to obviously, the stuff is good.

I think hes putting his name in the mix if we need a starter in the second half.

Schlittler is not on the 40-man roster yet, so the Yankees would have to create a spot for him if they wanted to call him up before rosters expand on Sept.

1.

Advertisement If Stroman does return to the big leagues and continues to pitch poorly, the Yankees may have to consider designating him for assignment and eating the rest of the $18.5 million salary hes owed.

Stroman has an option for 2026 that vests if he pitches 140 innings this season, but that is no longer a possibility because of missed time.

The Yankees actively tried to trade Stroman last offseason but were unable to do so.

They can try again before the July 31 trade deadline , but there is no statistical evidence that indicates Stroman is still an effective starter.

His fastball velocity, already one of the slowest in the big leagues, decreased last season.

His ground-ball rate, the main selling point of Stroman, was the lowest of his career.

His strikeout rate was also a career-low in 2024 and it was even worse this season before his knee injury in April.

Yarbrough going down with an injury is a sneaky loss for the Yankees because of his consistency.

For the past two months, the Yankees rotations 3.08 ERA has been the best across MLB.

Despite how sluggish the offense has been in June , the starting pitching has kept the Yankees in almost every game.

But now they are facing the possibility of having an uninspiring starting pitcher every fifth day.

(Photo of Cam Schlittler: George Kubas / Diamond Images via Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.