When the New York Yankees ruled out Gerrit Cole for the 2025 season in March, their starting pitching depth was immediately put on high alert. Sure, they had Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, but everyone else was a question mark. Will Warren made five starts the season prior, and he didn’t look good. Clarke Schmidt missed half of 2024 due to injury, and his health seemed murky. Marcus Stroman ended last season poorly, so his place in the rotation wasn’t even a sure thing.
Fast forward to September, and what was once New York’s largest concern might be its largest strength. While Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have done their jobs, two arms behind them, Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler have done the same. With the postseason looming, the Yankees now have a tough decision to make when it comes to their third postseason starter.
Cam Schlittler
Few Yankees fans knew who Cam Schlittler was before the season, but every single one of them knows him now. Despite not making his first appearance until July, the 6-foot-6 right-hander burst onto the scene in the Bronx. In 11 starts, Schlittler has gone 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA. However, those two stats simply scratch the surface. In two months, Schlittler has a K/9 of 10.1, a K% of 26.7, and a fastball velocity that ranks in the 95th percentile. It’s a small sample size, but Schlittler has all the makings of a future ace.
Luis Gil
Like Schlittler, few Yankee fans knew about Luis Gil before last season. To change that, Gil quietly won the American League Rookie of the Year Award with a 15-7 record and a 3.50 ERA. Unfortunately, a back strain kept him out for the first four months of 2025, but since returning, Gil has been excellent. He has struggled with his command, evidenced by his 1.3 K/BB ratio. Still, he’s pitched to a 4-1 record and a 2.83 ERA in eight starts. In fact, after allowing five earned runs in his first start back, Gil has allowed two or fewer runs in every start since.
The Verdict
As tempting as it might be to start Schlittler, Gil should get the nod. Other than his first start, Gil has been great since his return in early August. Yes, the command isn’t quite there, but everything else clearly is. In addition, Gil made two postseason starts for the Yankees last season; Schlittler can’t say the same. The Yankees haven’t won it all since 2009, and their fanbase has grown impatient. If New York hopes to end the drought, making Gil their third starter is a good first step.
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