Aaron Boone's baffling Cam Schlittler quote proves Yankees might be overthinking Wild Card rotation

As a former analyst over at ESPN, Aaron Boone might just have a little more media training than your typical MLB manager. But that doesn't mean he won't fire off a head-scratching quote from time to time. That includes his recent answer to how the New York Yankees' rotation may look against their opponent in the Wild Card Series. 

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Boone appears to be noncommittal when it comes to which pitcher will get the nod in the first game of the Wild Card Series. Despite being the favorite to take home the Cy Young Award in the AL, Cam Schlittler will “not necessarily” be named the starter at this point.  

“Whoever goes one or two doesn't affect the next series. So whoever goes one or two can pitch two and five in the next series, for example,” Boone explained. “So we'll decide what kind of makes the most sense, just matching up how we want to go with it. But Cam would certainly be one of those first two games.”

If you had to describe the word "overthinking" in exactly 58 words, Boone’s quote would be a good place to start. Whether it is a classic case of Boone being in his own head or just pure gamesmanship to keep the American League on their toes, it’s not exactly reassuring to Yankees fans.   

The Yankees can’t worry about who they might face in the second round of the playoffs before a single pitch is thrown in the Wild Card round, and while Boone went out of his way to say that round won't be affected, why mention it at all? And they can’t worry about trying to outsmart anyone with their rotation. They just have to put forth their best roster to win what’s right in front of them. That means Schlittler should lead them in the Wild Card Series. 

The Yankees will go as far as Cam Schlitter carries them in the postseason  

With all due respect to Gerrit Cole and Max Fried, if you watched Schlittler pitch at any point this year, you'd know that he was the Yankees' best pitcher and the ace of their staff. And if you saw him dominate the Red Sox during last year's Wild Card Series matchup, you'd know that he should undoubtedly get the ball first to set the tone, regardless of who the Yankees' opponent is. 

Despite only being in his first full year in the majors, Schlittler has backed up his big talk off the field while on the mound. He may be an elite troll online, but he is all business when he steps in between the lines on the ball field. That’s not to say that Cole or Fried aren’t competitors, but Schlittler has just been on a whole other level over the past year and a half. 

In two postseason starts in 2025, Schlittler gave up just two earned runs in 14.1 innings. He also struck out 14 while not walking a single batter. That’s about as locked in as you can get as a pitcher, especially as a rookie pitcher. He took that playoff success and ran with it this season, accumulating 6.1 fWAR in 32 starts.

Although Schlittler’s body of work in the postseason isn’t as extensive as Cole's, giving him the ball in the first game just puts the Yankees in the best position to win. Last postseason, the Yankees dropped their first game against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series before Schlittler slammed the door shut with his Game 3 win. It's best not to tempt fate a second time and wait for Schlittler to deliver another gem.   

Boone should not try to get cute with the rotation in the Wild Card round. Schlittler has guided the Yankees this far into the season and it has worked out quite well so far. There’s no reason to mess with that. 

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