Manager Alex Cora said on Monday that if the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees split the first two games of their AL wild-card playoff series in the Bronx, their Game 3 starter is to be determined.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, meanwhile, announced on Monday that rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler would get the nod in a potential do-or-die contest on Thursday.
“Aaron Boone says Cam Schlittler (would) be his Game 3 starter. What a story that would be, the rookie from Walpole, Mass., and Northeastern facing the Sox,” Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe posted on Bluesky.
New York selected Schlittler in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft and the 24-year-old made his big-league debut in early July.
Story continues below advertisement
The Yankees are expected to start southpaws Max Fried and Carlos Rodon in Games 1 and 2 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Red Sox are planning to counter with AL Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet in the series opener and right-hander Brayan Bello in Game 2.
Schlittler’s rise to a possible playoff start has been impressive.
The Massachusetts native went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 84 strikeouts against 31 walks across 73 innings pitched (14 starts) this season.
Story continues below advertisement
Schlittler didn’t face Boston this summer, so his first time facing his hometown team could be with both groups’ seasons on the line.
Featured image via Brad Penner/Imagn Images
