Yankees’ Cam Schlittler will no longer start on Sunday

Lou LandersFri, July 24, 2026 at 1:44 PM UTC·3 min read

New York Yankees fans expecting to see their star right-hander Cam Schlittler pitch on Sunday will need to adjust their calendars. The Yankees have reshuffled their rotation ahead of one of the most highly anticipated series in MLB this weekend as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, though, this isn’t injury-related. Schlittler is healthy. Instead, the Yankees are simply making strategic changes to their pitching schedule. They are moving Schlittler up from Sunday to tonight.

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Schlittler Gets the Friday Assignment

Rather than taking the mound on Sunday, Schlittler will now start Friday night’s series opener against Philadelphia.

He will pitch on his normal amount of rest and will face Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo in what should be one of the more intriguing pitching matchups of the weekend.

The decision reflects the Yankees’ confidence in Schlittler, who continues to earn important opportunities despite being one of the younger arms on the staff.

The biggest ripple effect from the rotation shuffle impacts fellow right-hander Will Warren.

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Originally lined up earlier in the series, Warren has now been pushed back after appearing out of the bullpen during Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Interestingly, that relief outing marked his first appearance since the All-Star break, despite the Yankees already having played six games coming out of the break.

That usage could be more significant than it initially appears.

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Rotation Crunch Is Coming

The Yankees’ pitching staff is beginning to get healthier.

Ace Max Fried returned to the rotation earlier this week, providing a major boost to the starting staff. Even more help is on the horizon, with Carlos Rodón expected to rejoin the rotation in the near future.

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Once Rodón is activated, the Yankees will have more healthy starters than available rotation spots. Someone will inevitably have to move out of the starting five.

Based on recent usage, Warren appears to be the pitcher most at risk.

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A Decision May Already Be Taking Shape

Using Warren in relief while moving Schlittler into a prominent weekend start could be an early indication of how manager Aaron Boone and the coaching staff view the current rotation.

While nothing has been officially announced regarding future roles, Warren’s bullpen appearance suggests the Yankees are at least exploring alternative ways to utilize him once Rodón returns.

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With the postseason race heating up, every rotation decision carries extra significance. The Yankees insist this latest adjustment is simply about lining up pitchers for a key series, but it may also provide a glimpse into how the rotation will look once everyone is healthy.

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