CLEVELAND — A pivotal ALCS Game 5 that looked on paper like a premium pitchers' duel dissolved into something much different on Sunday, as the Tampa Bay Rays took down the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 at Progressive Field to move within one win of a World Series berth. While the final score suggests a closely contested ballgame, the tale of the two starting pitchers tells otherwise.
When the AL Cy Young Award is announced next month, it's a safe bet that Yankees ace Cam Schlittler will take home the honor. Toronto's Dylan Cease appears to be the likeliest runner-up. Beyond that, both Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen and Guardians rookie lefty Parker Messick have a strong case to be the third finalist, based on their fantastic regular seasons. Rasmussen ranked third in fWAR (5.0) and fourth in ERA (2.67) behind Schlittler and Cease; Messick ranked fourth in fWAR (4.9) and third in ERA (2.56).
These were the starting pitchers for Game 5 on Sunday. Rasmussen had tossed six innings of two-run ball in Game 1 — but in a Rays loss. Messick covered five innings and allowed three runs in Game 2 — but in a Guardians loss. With the series tied at two games apiece, Sunday's contest gave each frontline arm the tantalizing chance to push his club closer to the American League pennant.
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For neutral observers hoping for maximum October drama, the blueprint for a best-case clash could be found in July, when Rasmussen and Messick traded blows in a 1-0 Rays victory at Tropicana Field. In that one, Messick allowed the lone run across 7 ⅔ innings while Rasmussen yielded just one hit across seven shutout frames. If a similar game were on tap Sunday — this time with supremely elevated stakes — that would mean a timely hit or two would be required to seize a narrow victory. But such visions of a repeat nailbiter enforced by these elite starters were quashed in a hurry.

#messick #rays #Guardians

Regular readers know that I've followed one of the great Cy Young horse races in recent memory, with Cam Schlittler going great start-for-great start with the Blue Jays' Dylan Cease. We got a little bit of separation this week, as the Athletics touched up Cease for four runs in five innings on Monday, and then Schlittler allowed just a solo shot in seven frames against the Rockies on Tuesday. Cam has crept just ahead by fWAR, enjoys a considerable lead in bWAR, and right now I think would end up at the top of most voters' ballots.
But something struck me in the aftermath of Cam's night against Colorado, the same night that Aaron Judge returned to the lineup. Cam Schlittler isn't just the Cy Young favorite, but he's built himself an MVP case. No pitcher has won the award since Clayton Kershaw for the 2014 Dodgers, and the last AL winner was 2011 Justin Verlander. Yordan Alvarez is in the hunt for the first Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Witt Jr. is probably the best overall player in the league, and if Junior Caminero tops the AL in home runs and plays on the Junior Circuit's best team, he probably gets his share of votes too.
And yet here's the thing: Cam stacks up fairly against all three of them!
Let's take Yordan, who I think has the inside track on the award right now. Schlittler's 0.1 fWAR back, a difference that is literally negligible, and more than three-quarters of a win better by bWAR. Alvarez's candidacy is based around the Triple Crown, probably being the best hitter in baseball, and dragging what we thought was a finally-deflated Houston Astros team to a division ****** le. ****** py AL West or not, that is exactly the blueprint for an MVP, if one for a slightly older voter.
Should Alvarez not win the Triple Crown, he loses a bit of his case, though he's likely still the best hitter in the game on a division winner, one who will have played in the neighborhood of 155 games. That's the big thing both undercutting Witt's MVP claim while bolstering his position as best all-around player — the Kansas City shortstop has only played 128 games at time of writing, yet leads the league in fWAR and bWAR among position players. With a solid-but-not-spectacular 18 homers and 124 wRC+, the parts of his game beyond hitting are doing the heavy lifting there as well. All that and the fact that the Royals are so bad work against him when it comes to end of season awards though, and Bobby seems cursed to be the Dave Stieb of shortstops.

#schlittler #young #cease

MLB fans expecting Aaron Judge to immediately return to his usual role may have to wait, with New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicating that the superstar could be eased back into action.
Judge has been sidelined for the past three months after suffering a right rib stress fracture. The Yankees captain has not appeared in a game since May 31, making his upcoming return one of the biggest storylines surrounding the club as the regular season enters its final weeks.
Judge traveled with the Yankees during their six-game road trip and is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday when New York begins a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
However, Boone's comments suggest Judge's workload could initially be limited as the Yankees carefully manage their star's return.
MORE: Dylan Cease just handed the AL Cy Young award to Cam Schlittler

#yankees #three #tuesday #Colorado

Three cheers, Yankees fans: Aaron Judge is at last coming off the injured list! The slugging superstar returns to the fold just in time for the stretch run, and not a moment too soon. The Bombers have been struggling to close the distance on the Rays in the AL East race with time running out, and the Red Sox remain hot on their trail in the Wild Card hunt. Now, which unfortunate team will be pulling into the Bronx just in time for the captain's return?
Why, the Colorado Rockies — owners of the National League's worst record at 55-88. Colorado has shown a bit more panache than their utterly moribund incarnation from last year, but they remain a franchise stuck deep in the cellar. They lost seven straight games, rallied to take a pair in Washington, then lost five more games consecutively before surprising the Orioles with a few plucky wins at home. They just came off a series loss in St. Louis which featured one of the more odious ump shows in recent memory.
All three games of this series will be televised on YES.
Tuesday: Cam Schlittler vs. Gabriel Hughes (7:05 p.m. EST)
This is one of the more lopsided cards you'll see. Cam Schlittler comes into the series opener with a 2.04 ERA across 171.2 innings as he chases a Cy Young award in his first full MLB season. Rookie Gabriel Hughes has pitched to a 6.19 ERA with six losing decisions (and no wins) in his first 11 appearances in the show.

#series #gabriel #three

The Yankees (79-60) and the Angels (53-86) conclude their three-game series tonight in Southern California with the series tied at one game apiece following New York's 7-3 win last night.
Spencer Jones and Jazz Chisholm Jr. went yard back-to-back in the first inning and the Yankees never looked back. Jones has homered in back-to-back games and Chisholm is 6-11 over his last three games with six runs scored. Zach Neto (2-4) and Wade Meckler (3-4) were the lone bright spots at the plate for the Angels in the game. The win was the Yankees' fifth in their last six games. The Halos have now lost eight of their last nine games.
Two of the hottest pitchers in baseball take the mound tonight in this one as Cam Schlittler (12-6, 2.09 ERA) takes the ball for the Yankees opposed by Reid Detmers (4-8, 3.54 ERA) of the Angels. Schlittler was outstanding last Friday against the Red Sox silencing them over 5.2 innings. His previous three starts saw him allow just one run per game with Schlittler pitching at least into the sixth inning of each. Detmers has been at least as good over the same stretch of time. Last Friday, the southpaw pitched six innings and allowed one run. He blanked the Rangers and Royals in his previous two starts (14 innings).
While these teams live in alternate universes, the season series is tied at three games apiece.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

#last #yankees #Angels #series

During the New York Yankees 16-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, WEEI radio's Red Sox play-by-play man Will Flemming made some alarming comments about Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm stole two bases in the eighth inning with the Yankees holding on to a six-run lead. He proceeded to call Chisholm a bush league player and said he does not play the game the right way. He also said that pitcher Jovani Morán should intentionally hit Austin Wells, who was at the plate, in retaliation for Chisholm stealing. Yankees players and fans were rightfully upset, including New York Knicks star Josh Hart.
"Yo (Red Sox) your idiotic announcer got to go," Hart said on X on Monday.
Cam Schlittler, who's never shy about going on social media, later tweeted out seemingly in support of Hart's message.
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#york #player #sunday

For the Red Sox, this weekend offered a tantalizing opportunity: Take three out of four in the Bronx against the Yankees, and Boston would secure the season tiebreaker and leap its rival in the standings. It would've been a fulfilling culmination of sorts for a club that was, just a few months ago, very down and incredibly out.
Instead, the Sox were outplayed and outclassed in a disappointing series loss that likely complicates their path to postseason glory. An ugly 16-1 drubbing on Sunday, in which infielder Andruw Monasterio had to throw the ninth inning, was the frustrating cherry on the **** mer sundae in which the Yankees took three out of four. For New York, it was a reassuring result, one that further solidified the current AL East pecking order.
The AL East-leading Rays swept the Padres this weekend, pushing their division lead to 4.5 games over New York. That leaves the Yankees atop the wild-card race, despite having the second-best record in the American League. They're now four games clear of Boston, which is five games safe of the next-closest club in the wild-card race.
Yes, there's still a month or so of games to play. But the playoff picture is coming into focus, with this weekend's result making a Yankees-Red Sox wild-card rematch a very, very likely outcome.
Last postseason, Cam Schlittler elevated himself from nice story to world-beater with a masterful, eight-inning, 12-strikeout performance against the Red Sox in AL wild-card Game 3. Less than a year later, the Massachusetts kid has evolved into a co-front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award alongside Toronto's Dylan Cease. On Friday against his boyhood team, Schlittler further reinforced his awards case with six brilliant shutout innings in a nailbiting 1-0 Boston victory. It was a reminder that, in a rivalry overflowing with accomplished hurlers, Schlittler is top of the heap right now.

#yankees #card #york

Red Sox Face Daunting Doubleheader Challenge Against Yankees Aces originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox could not solve Cam Schlittler on Friday night. Their reward is a Saturday date with two of the New New York Yankees' top pitchers.
New York will activate Max Fried from the injured list to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Carlos Rodón will start the opener against Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early.
Fried's return comes exactly 15 days after the Yankees placed him on the injured list, allowing him to return following a minimum-length absence. The timing presents another difficult test for Boston's struggling lineup.
The Red Sox entered Saturday after being shut out in consecutive games. They dropped Friday's series opener 1-0 despite recording five hits and drawing six walks against New York's pitching staff. Boston went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. The loss extended its scoreless streak to 18 innings.

#york #start #opener

NEW YORK - Cam Schlittler likes the big stage, and don't the Red Sox know it.
Eleven months ago, Schlittler entered pinstriped lore by blanking Boston over eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts, advancing the Yankees to the AL Division Series in a wild card elimination game.
On Friday night, Schlittler (11-6, 2.16 ERA) gets the ball to open an important, four-game series at Yankee Stadium against the rival Red Sox, the team he grew up rooting for in Walpole, Mass.
He'll be opposed by Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.54), as the Yankees are due to face a spate of lefties after a long run against right-handed starters.
It'll be interesting to see how Yanks manager Aaron Boone plays it this weekend, with a hot-hitting lefty in Luis Garcia Jr., and with lefty-hitting second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. lately picking up steam.

#schlittler #series #game #lefty

The stakes are high as one of the great rivalries in baseball is renewed tonight in the Bronx. The Yankees (75-58) and the Red Sox (73-60) are each making the playoffs. Neither is out of the division race but the more obvious race is for the top Wild Card spot. The Yankees currently hold the top spot with the Sox sitting two games behind. Boston trails the Bronx Bombers by just two games for that top Wild Card spot. The fact that there is any intrigue in that race is remarkable considering that on July 1 the Red Sox were 10 games UNDER .500 and the Yankees were 11 games OVER .500.
The Red Sox arrive in the Big Apple after winning two of three in Miami. The Red Sox opened the series with a 4-2 victory before grinding out a dramatic 7-3 win in 11 innings in Game 2. The Marlins avoided a sweep with a 4-0 shutout of the Sox on Wednesday. New York takes the field tonight after losing two of three to Houston. The Yankees' bats were alive in splitting the first two games but went silent in a 5-1 loss last night.
Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.54 ERA) gets the ball for Boston tonight. After allowing seven runs to the Pirates back on August 16, the veteran rebounded last Saturday against the Giants allowing two runs over five innings. Overall, the Red Sox have won six of his eight starts. The Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler (11-6, 2.16 ERA). The Cy Young favorite has been dominant nearly every time he has taken the mound this season. In his most recent start, Schlittler allowed but one run over six innings against the Blue Jays. Despite his consistently elite numbers, Schlittler has seen the Yankees lose four of his last five starts as the Pinstripes rarely offer him much in the form of run support.
This four-game series is certain to have a playoff atmosphere surrounding it as each side looks to further cement a playoff spot and continue to try to chase down the Rays in the AL East.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

#spot #last #bronx #wild

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - MAY 04: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays takes the field prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, May 4, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Alex Zadorozny/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays have leaned heavily on Max Scherzer's experience throughout this season and last, even when the veteran right-hander has been dealing with health issues or struggling to find his best form on the mound.
That value extends beyond what Scherzer can provide on the mound. With more than a decade of postseason experience, three Cy Young Awards and a place among baseball's all-time strikeout leaders, Scherzer remains one of the most respected voices in the Blue Jays' clubhouse. His competitive edge has never really disappeared, either, even if he isn't still the frontline ace he once was.
"I never once lost belief in my ability, if I'm healthy, to be able to go out there and get outs, compete and try to win ballgames," Scherzer recently told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Yeah, I've had little ailments pop up; OK, great, move on. No one feels sorry for you, so you've got to get back out here and start competing."
That mentality was on full display on Friday, although Scherzer wasn't the pitcher taking the mound. Instead, he found himself expressing the frustration felt by many Blue Jays in the dugout as New York Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler inexplicably delayed the start of the rivalry matchup.

#field #even

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Spencer Jones hit a towering two-run homer in the second inning that was upheld on replay, and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.
New York starter Cam Schlittler (11-6) held the Blue Jays to one run and six hits in six innings. The tall right-hander allowed one earned run or fewer for the major league-leading 19th time and got his first win since July 24.
After Trent Grisham opened the second with a walk, Jones lifted Spencer Arrighetti's 2-1 curveball to right field. The ball stayed fair, passed the foul pole before landing about halfway up the second deck.
Jones watched the flight of the ball before starting his home run trot. As he was about halfway through, Toronto manager John Schneider called for a review and the home run stood following a brief delay.
It was Jones' seventh homer and the second time he homered in consecutive games. Jones also went deep at Wrigley Field July 31-Aug. 1.

#spencer #july

Patrick Sandoval has been playing with fire baserunners all season since returning from Tommy John surgery this year, and it finally blew up on the Red Sox over the weekend. Now we're hearing that an injury may be playing a role in his performance, even if it's a small one. Sandoval apparently has been battling a blister on his left foot (the foot he uses to push off the rubber) for most of the year. (Jon Conahan, NESN)
If Sandoval does go on the IL — or if he's just ***** ped from the rotation for underperformance — the Sox do have another experienced starter on the roster who could take his rotation spot in Brayan Bello. The problem is that Bello, for whatever reason, is thriving in his long relief role after struggling in the first inning all season long. "Does this mean Brayan can't start anymore? That's not the case," Chad Tracy said. "It's difficult to ignore how very, very effective he has been coming out of the bullpen in a bulk relief role and taking down innings. So I don't think that we've closed the book on that by any means. It just feels like that's the way to do it right now." (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Bello is pitching so well in his long relief role that it's hard not to think about what the narrative of his season would be if he was able to perform this way as a conventional starter. He has an ERA of 0.85 in over 50 relief innings, and if he were performing anywhere close to that while starting games, we'd be talking about him having a career year and thrusting himself into the Cy Young conversation. As it stands, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees seems to have that award locked up, though Sonny Gray is currently projected to finish fifth. (Jason Foster, MLB.com)
Sonny Gray is rightly heralded as one of the best offseason acquisitions any big league team has made this year. But, so far, the Red Sox trade deadline acquisitions aren't faring nearly as well. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
Bello isn't the only Red Sox veteran who went missing from this team for most of the middle of the season, of course. Trevor Story has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery, after struggling through the first weeks of the season. But he now hopes to return as early as Friday. It's fair to ask whether he still should get the nod at shortstop given his poor performance before hitting the IL, but Chad Tracy says the goal is for him to be the everyday shortstop again. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

#year #role #long

The Yankees' ten-run outburst from Wednesday night is already feeling like a distant memory. The team's moribund bats have gone back to sleep, registering three consecutive woeful efforts that have returned just two runs total. Their obstacle today as they attempt to avoid a sweep at the hands of the suddenly surging Blue Jays? A date with Dylan Cease, the Toronto ace locked in a battle with Cam Schlittler for the AL Cy Young award.
On the site today, Matt will get you caught up with this morning's Rivalry Roundup, while Maximo will opine on the deleterious effects of unreasonable expectations on Ben Rice and George Lombard Jr. Later, John will recognize Gene Woodling, an unheralded figure from the Yankees' golden years, before running the through the week in Yankee social media.
New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays
Time: 1:37 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

#blue #toronto #schlittler

As a reminder, today's game is on AppleTV.
Yesterday afternoon was disappointing, but taking three of four from the Red Sox still counts as a statement by a team that's playing surprisingly well since the deadline.
The Yankees will test whether this run can amount to anything. The Jays draw Gerrit Cole today, Cam Schlittler tomorrow, and Ryan Weathers on Sunday. That's about as tough of a pitching series matchup as it gets. But hey, we have Paul Sewald now, so there.
We got little bits of news today. Anthony Santander is apparently hitting off a tee. That's good for him, but I'm operating under the ******* umption that he's effectively medically retired until we get proof otherwise.
As mentioned, Paul Sewald is active tonight. He's posted a really good K:BB ratio this year (44:9 in 39 innings), but 12 home runs have blown up his ERA. Hopefully either luck or a new coaching staff gets him past that issue. Lazaro Estrada goes down for the corresponding move. Due to a new rule this year, because he's been optioned five times now this season he'd have to be DFA'd if he's brought back and sent down again. It's not a big thing, as he hasn't been good this year, but it just adds one more wrinkle to an already complicated Jays pitching situation.

#pitching #appletv

NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón is scheduled to make his second minor league rehabilitation start for Double-A Somerset.
Rodón has been on the 15-day injured list since July 3 because of left elbow inflammation. He received multiple shots, including platelet-rich plasma injections, and threw 29 of 48 pitches for strikes in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The left-hander allowed three runs and three hits over 2 2/3 innings against Rochester, with four strikeouts and two walks.
New York manager Aaron Boone has said Rodón could return to the team in a piggyback situation with another starter at first, similar to Max Fried's return from a bruised left elbow on July 22.
When he gets back, Rodón will rejoin a strong Yankees rotation that also includes Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.

#left #first #three #carlos

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón is scheduled to make his second minor league rehabilitation start Thursday night for Double-A Somerset.
Rodón has been on the 15-day injured list since July 3 because of left elbow inflammation. He received multiple shots, including platelet-rich plasma injections, and threw 29 of 48 pitches for strikes last Saturday in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The left-hander allowed three runs and three hits over 2 2/3 innings against Rochester, with four strikeouts and two walks.
New York manager Aaron Boone has said Rodón could return to the team in a piggyback situation with another starter at first, similar to Max Fried's return from a bruised left elbow on July 22.
When he gets back, Rodón will rejoin a strong Yankees rotation that also includes Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.

#first

The first two games of this series against Atlanta, the NL East front-runner and a possible postseason opponent should the Yankees go deep in October, have gone almost as well as possible, considering the glaring holes in the New York lineup. Starting pitching has been a huge reason for that success. Max Fried and Gerrit Cole combined to allow two runs through 13.1 innings in the opening contests. Should similar events unfold today, a sweep is tantalizingly close.
The Yankees theoretically have the right guy on the mound to do it. Cam Schlittler is in the middle of a dominant season, one that has him at the head of the pack for the AL Cy Young (or at least neck-and-neck with Dylan Cease). He's admittedly in a bit of a rough spell, with a 3.86 ERA over his last seven starts. But in his final two starts of July, he allowed one run in 13.2 innings prior to his ****** py outing against St. Louis, so let's not fret he's turned into a pumpkin.
Anyone who has been watching Cam knows what to expect. He brings the heat. His four-seamer, cutter, and sinker account for 90 percent of his pitches and he has been overpowering with them. When he does sprinkle in the curve, it is overwhelmingly to lefties. If you are a right-handed hitter, prepare for the gas.
The Braves turn to Grant Homes to prevent the sweep. Holmes is in the middle of a perfectly cromulent season of his own, for what it is worth. Today should be a juxtaposition of styles. While Schlittler attacks with the No. v1, Holmes will throw the kitchen sink at Yankee hitters. Righties can expect to see his slider, four-seamer, and sinker. He attacks lefties, meanwhile, with the slider, four-seamer, cutter, curve, and changeup. All told, he throws the slider more than any other pitch so expect to see it frequently today.
With a righty on the mound, the Yankee lineup is littered with lefties. In fact, it's actually identical to the one that they deployed on Friday against Holmes' fellow righty, Tyler Mahle. Heliot Ramos and beloved rookie George Lombard, Jr. are the only righties starting today. Ben Rice, fresh off ending an 11-game homerless streak, hits second. The aforementioned Lombard, who went oppo taco for a homer of his own yesterday, hits seventh. Newly acquired Luis García Jr. hits cleanup. Perhaps unsurprisingly as a former division rival of Atlanta, García has the most familiarity with Holmes of any Yankee batter, the erstwhile Nat possessing a 4-for-10 line against Holmes, including a longball.

#holmes #atlanta

Yankees' Cam Schlittler Has Red Sox Realization That Will Make Boston Fans Laugh originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's been an extremely impressive second half for the Boston Red Sox, but the same can't be said for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees, who have played well throughout the year at 65-51, are only a half-game ahead of Boston at the moment. About a month and a half ago, there was a strong argument to be made that the Red Sox should have moved on from every top player on their roster who had value and was a veteran, meaning New York didn't seem to worry about them too much.
However, that hasn't been the case any longer, as both teams are right in the mix to not only make the playoffs, but impact each other heavily by stealing a wild-card spot or winning the division instead of the other one.
That's something a New York youngster has understood, adding that Boston playing this well should motivate the Yankees.

#yankees #boston

For much of the 2026 MLB season, Yankees ace Cam Schlittler has been viewed as the favorite to capture the American League Cy Young Award. His remarkable rookie campaign has been one of baseball's biggest stories, and he has spent most of the year atop Cy Young rankings.
Now, however, there's a new frontrunner. Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease has surged into the conversation with another dominant stretch, and based on the current numbers, he has a legitimate case to move ahead of Schlittler in the race for the AL's top pitching honor.
MLB Network recently compared the two aces side by side, and the race couldn't be much closer.
MORE: Yankees' Aaron Judge gives significant injury update
Apr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

#yankees #jays #cease #Chicago

The St. Louis Cardinals (56-57) and New York Yankees (63-50) continue their three-game series tonight at Yankee Stadium.
Its been a challenge offensively for these teams for much of the season, but last night the bats were alive as the teams combined for 20 runs and 23 hits as the Cards rallied in the eighth inning to win 13-7. Alec Burleson put on a show all by himself with three home runs and six runs batted in but he was not the only player who went yard. Jimmy Crooks and Nathan Church also homered for St. Louis and the Yankees went deep five times. Recently acquired Luis Garcia Jr., Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham, Jose Caballero, and Austin Wells circled the bases for the hometown Pinstripes. Buried behind all the offensive fireworks was a poor outing from Cam Schlittler who walked five and gave up four hits and four runs over just three innings.
With the loss New York dropped to 3.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East while the Cardinals kept pace in the NL Wild Card chase with the win.
St. Louis is expected to turn to right-hander Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 3.74 ERA). The 26-year-old has been inconsistent this season. Last Monday he allowed seven hits and four runs over 5.1 innings against the Cubs. The previous Wednesday, though, Dobbins threw six shutout innings against the Angels. The Yankees counter with Ryan Weathers (4-7, 3.99 ERA). The southpaw has been sharp his last two starts allowing just nine hits and one earned run over 12.2 innings.
After Monday's offensive explosion, the biggest question entering Game 2 is whether the sudden offense stays around or if either side's pitching regains control.

#cardinals

So, watch any good movies lately? I hear The Odyssey is pretty good.
It's the original hero's journey, you know? The template on which the most compelling stories humans tell each other are based. We search for that narrative everywhere we go, in every part of our lives. We seek it out in sports, an outlet which allows these tales of great challenges followed by heroic deeds to pour out before our eyes, unmediated by the artifice of the stage or the page.
The Yankees looked as if they had completed the hero's journey on Monday night in the Bronx. Tumbling to a 6-0 deficit after a clunker of a start from ace Cam Schlittler, the heretofore moribund Yankee offense appeared to rewrite their fate with an inspiring seven-run rally, capped off by a home run in the seventh from new arrival Luis García Jr. A sellout crowd which thought they had bought a ticket to a boring, tepid contest rose to their feet in delirium.
The bullpen did not get a single out in the eighth before all the offense's accomplishments were but a pile of ash in the dumpster behind the nearby sandwich shop. Home run after home run left the Cardinals' bats against Angel Chivilli in a seven-run eighth which sealed an ignominious and deeply unsatisfying fate for the Yankees: a 13-7 final score which wound up ***** uming the shape it had always promised to take, a laugher.
First, the initial deficit. Schlittler had nothing working on the mound tonight, allowing Cardinals to cross the plate in every inning of a meager three-frame performance. He walked five batters, struggled with his mechanics, and forced a heavily-taxed bullpen to try to summon 21 outs. First baseman Alec Burleson provided the first big blow with a first inning home run, the opening volley of what would wind up being a hat trick for him on the night.

#good

After a wild afternoon of transactions at the MLB trade deadline, there was a baseball game to play in New York and the Cardinals showed up like they had something to prove as they knocked Cam Schlittler, a Cy Young candidate, out of the game after just a few innings and Alec Burleson was a big reason why. The problem is that baseball games still last 9 innings which means the Cardinals bullpen will almost always become a factor for better or worse. Fortunately, the St. Louis bats would save the day.
When is the last time that we've been able to share that the St. Louis Cardinals scored in the first four innings of a game? That happened Monday night and was concurrent with Michael McGreevy having a very positive bounce-back outing (for 4 innings). The result was a Cardinals romp in the Big Apple, but it didn't look like it would go the St. Louis way for awhile.
It started in the top of the 1st inning when JJ Wetherholt drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, he was able to leisurely cross the plate after Alec Burleson jumped on a Cam Schlittler 97 mph four-seam fastball and deposited it into the short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium giving the Cardinals an immediate 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals started the top of the 2nd inning the way they started the top of the 1st with a walk by Nathan Church. José Fermín then found a 96 mph four-seam fastball to his liking and hammered it for a RBI double scoring Church and upping the Cardinals lead to 3-0.
The top of the 3rd inning was profitable for St. Louis, as well. Iván Herrera drew a leadoff walk and then stole second. Three batters later, Nathan Church singled to left scoring Herrera giving the Cardinals an unexpected 4-0 lead. Schlittler would only last 3 innings before he was removed from the game by Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

#cardinals #louis #innings #four

The Yankees (61-46) look to make it three straight over the White Sox (55-51) tonight at Rate Field following last night's 3-2 win.
Last night was a tightly contested pitching duel that saw the Yankees build an early lead and then survive a late White Sox rally. New York scored all three of its runs in the second inning against White Sox starter Anthony Kay. The rally began when Jasson Domínguez singled and Trent Grisham followed with a hit. Anthony Volpe then drilled an RBI double to deep center field, scoring Domínguez. Two batters later, Max Schuemann delivered the biggest hit of the game, a two-run double that plated both Grisham and Volpe for a 3-0 Yankees lead. The story for most of the evening, though, was Gerrit Cole, who looked dominant in his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Cole worked six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking two. Chicago struggled to generate offense until the ninth inning. Yankees closer David Bednar entered looking for his 22nd save, but Braden Montgomery singled and Chase Meidroth followed with a dramatic two-run homer to left field, trimming the deficit to 3-2. Bednar regrouped, however, striking out former Yankee Everson Pereira to end the game and secure the save.
The Yankees have now won five of their last six games and are within 1½ games of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East, while the White Sox remain atop the AL Central despite dropping four of their last five.
It seemed like the Sox were facing the ace of the Yankees' staff last night but tonight Chicago must face New York's current ace, Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2-07 ERA). His most recent start came on July 24 against the Phillies. He threw 7.1 shutout innings allowing just three hits while striking out 12. The White Sox will send Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49 ERA) to the **** p. The right-hander has had a breakthrough season but has been inconsistent of late allowing 12 earned runs over his last 18 innings.
Lets dive further into tonight's game and find a sweat or two.

#game #anthony

The New York Yankees' offense is missing some key bats right now, but their starting rotation is still one of the best in baseball.
Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole are an elite trio to have in a rotation. Carlos Rodón will return soon as well, but the Yankees may be interested in making the group even better. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Detroit Tigers are "super close" to making Tarik Skubal available, and MLB insider Jim Bowden has been told the Yankees would pursue him.
"If the Tigers were to trade Tarik Skubal, (the Yankees) will play there," Bowden said on the Foul Territory Network.
A rotation featuring Skubal, Schlittler, Fried and Cole would be a nightmare for any team in a postseason series. Pair that with a healthy offense that has Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, and the Yankees are favorites in the American League.
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#schlittler #fried

The Philadelphia Phillies face the New York Yankees tonight. Here's how to watch:
The Phillies will play the Yankees at 6:05 p.m. Eastern.
Today's Phillies game against the Yankees is on NBCSP (Philly) and YES (Yankees). You can also listen on 94WIP and the 106.1 Rumba (Philly), and WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (Yankees).
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Cam Schlittler (Yankees) vs. TBD (Phillies)

#yankees #eastern #nbcsp #wfan

MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: The Yankees rearranged their planned starters for this weekend's series in Philadelphia. Cam Schlittler was **** ped up to start Friday on normal rest, with Will Warren pushed back to Sunday. Warren appeared in relief Wednesday to help provide some coverage during a doubleheader. With Max Fried back in the rotation and Carlos Rodón on the comeback trail, Warren's recent usage suggests his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy.
MLB.com | Thomas Harrigan: The Yankees have gotten virtually no offensive production from the catcher position this season. With the trade deadline looming, expect them to pursue an upgrade. The most likely candidate is Minnesota's Ryan Jeffers, a righty bat who's a free agent after the season. The Athletics' Shea Langeliers and Colorado's Hunter Goodman are higher-upside plays with more years of club control, but there's no guarantee either will be moved. The Mets' Francisco Alvarez and Baltimore's Adley Rutschman loom as longshots, with Cincinnati's Tyler Stephenson and Minnesota's Victor Caratini less exciting backup plans should the rest fall through.
NJ.com | James Mertz: Paul Blackburn has broken out with the Yankees this year after moving to the bullpen full-time, posting a 2.00 ERA in 35 outings. He attributes the career renaissance in part with the consistency the Yankees have provided. The veteran contrasts that with his tenure with the Mets, who constantly shuttled him between the rotation and the bullpen. "I felt like we were just playing a video game," he said of his time across town, during which he posted a 6.00 ERA in 12 games.
CBS Sports | Rotowire Staff: Luis Gil faced live batters on Friday for the first time since early May, throwing BP. He's been on the minor-league IL, working back from right shoulder inflammation. The former Rookie of the Year was disastrous in four starts early this year and has no guaranteed role upon his return.

#warren #trade

The Philadelphia Phillies continue a three-game against the New York Yankees on July 25 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Here's what you need to know about today's games:
The Phillies face the Yankees at 6:05 p.m.
The Phillies have not named a starter. Right-hander Cam Schlittler (9-6, 2.20 ERA) will start for the Yankees.
The game will be broadcast on NBCSP. The radio broadcast will be on 94WIP and WDEL 101.7 FM/1150 AM.

#broadcast #york

It's been a bit of a janky week for Yankee baseball, with a pair of rain-induced doubleheaders and a scheduled offday in the past six. We return to what is hopefully normal programming today, with the Bombers coming into Philadelphia for a three-game set against the second-place Phillies.
It's Cam ****** p Day, as the ace Cam Schlittler looks to pull himself over the 4.0 fWAR mark if he can really strut on the Phils tonight. I've remarked a number of times this year how Cam will variate between "real good" and "meh" starts this year, with a handful of dominant performances and only one real stinker in the mix. His last outing was certainly in the "meh" column, as the Dodgers were able to chase him before the end of the fifth last Sunday.
I need to do the math on this, but it feels like because Cam throws so many pitches in the zone, he's most vulnerable against teams that make contact and offer at pitches in-zone. The Phillies boast the sixth-highest strikeout rate in baseball and the 10th-highest Z-Swing percentage, along with the 16th-best Z-Contact rate. To me that sounds like this should be a good matchup for Schlittler's game plan, but Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are still who they are.
Jesús Luzardo, who is still just 28 despite me feeling like I've heard his name for 15 years, goes for Philly. After a five-win season of his own last year, he's returned that pace and then some in 2026, making the All-Star team with a 3.43 ERA and 2.90 FIP, led by a sparkling ability to keep the ball in the park. The Yankees have managed to induce some immediate regression in other homer-suppressing pitchers this year, if they can manage that tonight they'll set themselves up well for a win.
Do note this game is on AppleTV+. I wish it were not.

#Baseball #real

This week’s All-Star Week festivities got off to a bombastic start on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, with outstanding performances from established sluggers and burgeoning stars alike in the Home Run Derby. The spectacle of Jordan Walker silencing a partisan Philadelphia crowd with six consecutive bombs to ****** the ****** le from Kyle Schwarber will be hard to top in terms of pure theatre, but let’s see what the Midsummer Classic itself has to offer!
Tonight, the Yankees will have both Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger representing them in the American League’s starting lineup; they’ll take on Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez on his home mound as the Senior Circuit seeks to claim their second straight victory in the main event. The AL had mounted a late-inning comeback to erase a 6-0 lead, but Schwarber ultimately led the NL to victory by winning a Derby-esque swing-off challenge which replaced extra innings.
Of course, two other Yankees were named All-Stars this season: Aaron Judge and Cam Schlittler. Judge is still working his way back from the rib fracture he sustained in the first week of June. Schlittler was about as deserving as any pitcher to get the starting nod for the AL, but owing to his start this past Saturday, opted not to participate. Strangely, Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who will be leading the American League on the field tonight, said he was always planning to tap the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease as the starter—even if Schlittler was available to pitch. Weird move, but all right.
Bellinger and Rice will hit consecutively in Schneider’s lineup, at the sixth and seventh spot respectively. (Everybody get those jokes out of the way now.) They were not voted into starting spots, but they will each get the nod regardless due to injuries to Judge and Byron Buxton in Bellinger’s case and the combination of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s withdrawal from the event and replacement Nick Kurtz’s recent addition to the IL.
Rice participated in last night’s Home Run Derby, but failed to advance to the next round. He’ll still get a chance to show off the impressive game power which has brought him to the precipice of 30 home runs at the season’s intermission. Bellinger was slumping mightily ahead of the season’s final week, but finished strong with five hits in the last four games ahead of the break. He gets a chance to keep that momentum going against…well, somebody in the NL’s pitching staff. Since it tends to be a new face pitching every inning, and all. Just one big hit from either of them however, and they could join Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013), and Giancarlo Stanton (2022) as the only All-Star Game MVPs in Yankees history.