Cam Schlittler pitched nicely enough to maintain his team in the sport, but poorly enough to bemoan his mistake.
The Yankees rookie was strong — and at his finest in the clutch — in his fifth profession outing that turned a 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Astros in The Bronx on Friday.
The righty was only victimized by his third batter of the sport, with Jose Altuve answering resounding boos by drilling a first-pitch, two-run home run.
Schlittler constantly navigated out of hazard (with some assist from Cody Bellinger) the relaxation of the means.
“I’m still trying to figure out the ropes,” said Schlittler, whose stuff stays spectacular and who owns a 4.38 ERA after his first 24 ²/₃ main league innings. “Got a look to work on.”
His largest focus: limiting the errors that are haunting him, this time arriving on the fifth pitch of the sport.
Austin Wells called for a slider. Schlittler wished to go sweeper instead, which is what he threw.
Cam Schlittler, who held the Astros to two runs, walks off the mound at the finish of the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Astros on Aug. 8, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In retrospect, he thinks he should have thrown a fastball.
Altuve appeared to be ready for an off-speed pitch and hammered the middle-of-the-plate breaking ball into the left area seats.
“That’s what he wanted,” said Schlittler, who threw more fastballs afterward to maintain a strong Houston offense at bay.
The Astros mounted rallies, but went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring against Schlittler. The one hit: a fourth-inning single from Cam Smith with Taylor Trammell on second base. Bellinger charged the ball and unleashed his third help of the season, a one-hop throw to Wells that arrived just before Trammell.
Cam Schlittler reacts dejectedly on the mound after giving up a two-run homer to Jose Altuve (background) during the first inning of the Mets’ 10-inning loss to the Astros. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Astros threatened again in the fifth, when Altuve doubled with one out.
But Schlittler induced a groundout from Carlos Correa and watched as Christian Walker flied out to the warning monitor in right-center, Schlittler exhaling after 97 pitches.
“Got into some trouble at times, but I thought overall threw the ball really well and made some really big pitches to keep us right there,” supervisor Aaron Boone said.
Yerry De los Santos throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 10-inning loss to the Astros on Aug. 8, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Yerry De los Santos, who pitched 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings in aid, has allowed one earned run in his previous 16 ¹/₃ innings.
Pitching reinforcements are taking steps back toward the team.
Sunday could be important for Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, who could each face hitters in dwell periods at Somerset.
That is the plan for Cruz, who has been shelved since late June with a left indirect pressure.
Fernando Cruz, who has been shelved since late June with a left indirect pressure, could face hitters in a dwell session at Somerset. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The beneficial righty, who owns a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 33 innings, has thrown bullpen periods but has yet to face hitters since hitting the injured listing for a second time this season.
Yarbrough already has confronted hitters once this week as he builds up from a proper indirect pressure that has stored him sidelined since June 18.
He might throw a dwell batting observe in Somerset and log two “ups,” or it is potential he will merely start a rehab task that day, Boone said.
It is not clear whether the Yankees will use the lefty — who was strong in aid and a revelation when pressured into the rotation — as a reliever or starter.
One more eventual aid choice, Jonathan Loáisiga, is feeling higher.
Boone was hopeful the righty, struggling from mid-back tightness that pressured him to the injured listing Sunday, would start a throwing program Friday.
Trade-deadline addition Austin Slater, who performed in three video games and logged seven plate appearances before straining his hamstring working to first base, will be out for 4-6 weeks, Boone said.
The mid-level pressure is projected to sideline the righty-hitting outfielder until early to mid September.
Saturday is Old-Timers’ Day, when the Yankees will maintain their first alumni baseball sport since 2019.
The occasion will commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of the 2000 World Series championship club.
Mariano Rivera and Joe Torre are among the expected attendees, as nicely as first-time Old-Timers Roger Clemens, Alfonso Soriano and Jose Vizcaino.
The Yankees ask that followers be in their seats by midday for introductions.
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