Cam Schlittler stumbles through rare Yankees dud in shortest start of season

The Yankees saw their ace get shelled in a rare off night.

Cam Schlittler suffered through his shortest stint of the season, giving up four runs — all earned — in just three innings against the Cardinals.

The right-hander’s usually immaculate control abandoned him as he walked a season-high five in those three errant frames.

It marked the second-shortest start of Schlittler’s career, longer only than his 1 ²/₃ inning outing against visiting Toronto on Sept. 5 last year.

Monday wasn’t much better and was far more unexpected.

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler reacts on the mound during the third inning on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Jason Szenes for the NY Post

Schlittler was fresh off back-to-back crisp performances that saw him give up just a lone run combined in 13 ²/₃ innings against the Phillies and White Sox.

But Schlittler walked leadoff hitter JJ Wetherholt, served up a two-run homer to Alec Burleson and never really found his footing.

Then he gave up José Fermin’s RBI double in the second and Nathan Church’s RBI single in the third.

By the time he was pulled, Schlittler had thrown 83 pitches — just 51 strikes — to get nine outs.

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) gives up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

He trailed 4-0 and saw his ERA tick up from his American League-leading 2.04 to 2.26.

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone without the Yankees making an addition to the staff from outside the organization, they’ll be counting even more on a pair of arms in different roles down the stretch in Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

Rodón pitched two innings of live batting practice Monday at Yankee Stadium and the left-hander said the session went well.

As long as he recovers well, there’s a chance Rodón will make a minor league rehab appearance n Saturday with either Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or Double-A Somerset, according to manager Aaron Boone.

GM Brian Cashman said Rodón (left elbow inflammation) could be back this month and noted one of their current starters — Ryan Weathers or Will Warren — could be moved to the pen.

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Cashman said it was “possible” but “unlikely” that Carlos Lagrange would recover from his shoulder injury in time to contribute this year.

Rodón, who faced Giancarlo Stanton and Ali Sánchez in the outing, said he felt good.

Schmidt, coming back from last year’s Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to throw three innings of live BP on Tuesday at the Stadium, with a minor league rehab assignment likely not far behind.

Since there’s not enough time — or a need — for Schmidt to build up to being a full starter, the Yankees are focused on getting him ready for a shorter role.

“He’s close to being in the mix,’’ Boone said of the right-hander. “He’s had that [bullpen] experience before. Hopefully it serves him well.”

To open a spot for Luis García Jr., Max Schuemann was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone said Schuemann has “done a good job for us this year. … He’s proving to be a good, valuable player. He could still be in the mix going forward, but now he’s the odd man out.”

The Yankees will have to make another roster move when their other trade deadline acquisition, Heliot Ramos, joins the team.