Cam Schlittler elected to stir the pot even before the start of the New York Yankees’ American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Yankees’ ace took aim at the Rays’ fans, telling reporters that he doesn’t truly feel his team is on the road to begin the best-of-five series.
Schlittler (1-0, 0.00 ERA) likely will hear it from the crowd Monday when New York bids to square the series at one win apiece. Fellow right-hander Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42) will take the mound for Tampa Bay.
“I wouldn’t say there’s really too much of an away crowd here,” Schlittler said prior to the Yankees’ 1-0 loss in the series opener on Saturday. “I expect there to be a lot of Yankees fans. In some ways, you are, to an extent, kind of playing at home. I feel like the guys are excited to have that atmosphere here.”
The Yankees certainly didn’t feel comfortable in Game 1. They registered just one hit and struck out 12 times in front of a raucous crowd at Tropicana Field.
New York manager Aaron Boone admitted to hearing the fans’ passion.
“It was loud, it felt like a playoff game, so it was good to be in that environment and hopefully we can earn ourselves a split in this next one,” Boone said Sunday. “But I thought it was a really good environment.”
Schlittler has reason to be confident after allowing two hits and striking out 10 over 6 1/3 innings in a 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in Game 1 of their wild-card series.
He posted a 1-1 record with a 2.81 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season. He last faced the Rays on Sept. 24, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in three innings. Schlittler, 25, is 1-2 with a 2.67 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) versus Tampa Bay.
Peralta would love to follow in the footsteps of Drew Rasmussen, who took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning on Saturday before surrendering a double to Austin Wells. Wells, however, unsuccessfully attempted to upgrade his double into a triple and was thrown out at third base to end the inning.
Peralta has won his last five decisions, including on Sept. 25 when he allowed four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
He faced the Yankees this season while pitching for the New York Mets. He walked away with a no-decision after permitting three runs and matching a career high with six walks in five innings on May 17.
Peralta has turned it around since removing his Mets jersey.
“I don’t want anybody to lose sight that Freddy Peralta has been an elite pitcher for a long time,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said on Sunday. “I know he had three months that he’d like to have back from his time with the Mets.
“I give Freddy all the credit in the world for coming here, being super positive, high-energy and open-minded. I know there’s been a lot of back and forth with whatever he’s been doing, but it’s been really good.”
Peralta, 30, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career appearances (both starts) versus the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
