The Yankees have a six-game winning streak and have scored at least ten runs in three straight games and four of their last five. Rookie Cam Schlittler has a 2.76 ERA through eight MLB starts, with a FIP about 1.5 runs higher, fewer strikeouts than in the minors, and a tendency to issue too many walks that requires refinement. Shane Smith offers similar high-velocity upside with reduced minor-league strikeout rates and control concerns. Giancarlo Stanton is benched with Jasson DomÃnguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the outfield. Ben Rice starts at first with Austin Wells catching. First pitch 7:10 p.m. Eastern at Rate Field in Chicago; TV, radio and streaming options available.
The Yankees are on their longest winning streak of the year, having taken six in a row with the chance to extend it against a very beatable team. You can't look past any team in MLB, but New York has plated at least ten runs in three straight, and four of their last five. The offense is clicking right now, and just need the rookie Cam Schlittler to keep pace.
He doesn't strike out as many batters as he did in the minors, where he consistently ran marks north of 30 percent. He's walked a few too many batters, and herein lies the next step for the youngster. His stuff is as impressive as anyone - it just takes watching a couple innings to see that - but against a weaker offense like the White Sox, today may be a good day to try out learning how to pitch, not just throw.
Shane Smith is in a fairly similar position, with a very live fastball, little MLB experience, and a lot of fun to watch. He even has the same struggles as Cam, with fewer strikeouts and more walks than he did at Triple-A, though he doesn't issue free passes at quite the same rate. If you want to know why pitching these days is so much better than it used to be, just watch the radar gun in this one.
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