The Yankees got off to a strong start in the Lone Star State last night, dispatching the Rangers 4-2 behind a trio of home runs and another Max Fried quality start. Tonight, one of the league’s most precocious fireballers will face a living legend. Cam Schlittler takes aim at Jacob deGrom as the Bombers seek a series victory.
Schlittler’s last start was his long-awaited Massachusetts homecoming, and it did not disappoint. Cam barreled his way past a moribund Red Sox lineup and completed eight full
innings, just like in last fall’s Wild Card finale. He’s continued to ace every test placed in front of him, and enters tonight’s action with a 1.77 ERA and MLB-leading 1.53 FIP. Most impressively of all, his occasionally-squirrely command from last year has been laser-focused: how does 41 strikeouts against four walks sound? Well, it computes to a 10.25 K/BB ratio, which also leads the Show. On a per-nine inning basis, he’s been the most walk-averse pitcher in the sport.
Will this regress? Probably. But Schlittler has continued to blow our expectations out of the water, one start at a time. Maybe this is just what he is now. It’ll help if he retains that pinpoint control against a Rangers lineup which has a plethora of patient hitters—Brandon Nimmo, Corey Seager, Evan Carter, and others are all more than happy to take their walks.
Did you remember that Jacob deGrom started 30 games last season? I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t. That’s no knock on the 37-year old, who returned to form in 2025 with an All-Star season, his first since moving down to DFW. Five starts in, he’s proving he’s still got it, with a 2.13 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.
deGrom doesn’t go deep into ballgames with much regularity anymore; the Rangers remain cautious about his pitch count. That didn’t stop him from racking up 10 K’s against the Pirates his last time out. It’s unfortunate that Giancarlo Stanton was just placed on the IL, since he has a .333 career average with four home runs against deGrom in his career.
No notes on the Bombers lineup tonight: It’s identical to last night’s starting nine, with the recently-recalled Jasson Domínguez getting another start at DH. His Triple-A teammate Max Schuemann—a 2024-25 big leaguer with the A’s—is also up with the Yankees now as the corresponding roster move with Stanton on the shelf. On to Skip Schumaker’s crew. The Rangers have penciled veteran Joc Pederson, who hit a pinch-hit homer off Camilo Doval last night, into their card, and longtime AL East foe Danny Jansen will catch in lieu of old friend Kyle Higashioka. One former Yankee prospect dealt in the Joey Gallo trade subs in for another: Josh Smith replaces Ezequiel Duran at the keystone.
How to Watch:
Location: Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX
First Pitch: 8:05 pm EDT
TV broadcast: Amazon Prime Video (NYY) | Rangers Sports Network (TEX)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270 (TEX)
Online stream: Amazon Prime Video, MLB.tv
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