Yankees Schlittler has near perfect response for Fried’s fantastic opening start

Mar 6, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

For the first time in franchise history, spanning all the way back to 1903, the New York Yankees have shut out their opponent in back-to-back games to open their season. With a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, it seems like the pitching might be the biggest strength for this team. 

After a masterful performance by Max Fried on opening night, all eyes were on Cam Schlittler to respond in his first start of 2026. And boy, did he go out there and pitch a lights-out effort. 

Let's go over his day and how much he will mean to this team for the rest of the season.

Schlittler's near-perfect start

In 5.1 innings of work, only one Giants outfielder, Heliot Ramos, was able to get a hit off of Schlittler. It only took 68 pitches to get to that point of the game, and he was able to sit down eight Giants on strikes. 

Fried was fantastic in his opening-night start, and Schlittler needed to try to repeat that kind of performance or one-up it. And he certainly one-upped it. With Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole on the 15-day Injured List, there will at least be two more instances of Fried and Schlittler getting back-to-back starts at the first and second spots of the rotation.

Everyone thought the bats were going to be the Yankees' biggest strength for 2026, which isn't wrong. But it has been the pitching that has really wowed us. Whenever you see a graphic with text that says, "First time in franchise history", for the Yankees, it has to be a truly incredible feat.