As the Yankees and Rays kick off a pivotal four-game series at Yankee Stadium tonight at 7:05 PM EDT, all eyes are on the pitching matchup: rookie Cam Schlittler for New York facing off against veteran Drew Rasmussen of Tampa Bay. With Aaron Judge sidelined, this game represents a critical juncture for the Yankees amid playoff and division pressure.([turn0news23]🚀 Schlittler’s Rise: Rookie Starter with Room to Grow
Cam Schlittler, the 24-year-old right-hander out of Northeastern, was called up after a season-ending injury to Clarke Schmidt and quickly made his debut on July 9. In his first outing against Seattle, he tossed 5⅓ innings, allowed three earned runs, struck out seven, and displayed an impressive fastball frequently touching 100 MPH—the fastest by a Yankee this season.([turn0news36]MLB.comNew York Post)
Through two more starts—all quality outings—he now enters tonight with a 1–0 record, a 4.35 ERA, 10 strikeouts and a 1.55 WHIP over 10.1 innings, though control remains a concern (11% walk rate).([turn0search17]New York Post+3MLB.com+3ESPN.com+3) It’s his third MLB start, aiming for consistency and command that have wavered in earlier games.([turn0search5]
In the minors, Schlittler was dominant: a 2.82 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 76⅔ innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He earned South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors before the Yankees’ call-up.([turn0search37]Wikipedia+1MLB.com+1)
😨 Rasmussen’s Yankees Doom in Pinstripes
On the other side, Drew Rasmussen, a 30-year-old Rays pitcher, boasts a career record of 2–1 with a microscopic 0.34 ERA against the Yankees in 26⅔ innings over five prior appearances—only .160 batting average allowed, and a stellar 0.75 WHIP.([turn0search35]SI) With more than a third of Yankees struck out through his career against them, Rasmussen remains one of their toughest matchups.([turn0news23]Pinstripe Alley)
This season he's been consistent, posting a 7–5 record and 2.93 ERA across 20 starts, with around 7.7 K/9. He’s thrown 82 strikeouts over 95⅓ innings, with comparable control and steadiness—though his four most recent outings resulted in no-decisions while yielding 8 runs in 11 innings, per recent reports.([turn0search0]SIAP NewsWikipedia) Analytics suggest his strikeouts remain solid but slightly down compared to past work.([turn0search2]Covers.com)
🔍 Matchup Analysis
| Pitcher | Cam Schlittler (NYY) | Drew Rasmussen (TB) |
|---|---|---|
| MLB Starts | 3 | 20 |
| 2025 ERA | 4.35 | 2.93 |
| WHIP | 1.55 | ~1.03 |
| K/9 | ~8.7 | ~7.7 |
| BB% | ~11% (Control Issues) | Strong Command |
| Career vs Opponent | First MLB starts | 0.34 ERA vs NYY |
Key storylines:
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Schlittler must tame his walk rate and efficiency to avoid giving the Rays extra baserunners.
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Rasmussen’s success against the Yankees, especially in Yankee Stadium, adds exceptional pressure on New York’s lineup—even without Judge.([turn0search0]CBSSports.comWikipedia+13SI+13CBSSports.com+13Reddit+1New York Post+1Wikipedia+15Pinstripe Alley+15Pinstripe Alley+15)
🧠 Yankees Without Aaron Judge
With superstar Aaron Judge out due to a forearm flexor strain, the Yankees lineup lacks its power anchor and playoff-level right-handed bat. Manager lineup adjustments include Paul Goldschmidt starting over Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon batting seventh, fresh off a 3-for-6 splashy debut.([turn0news23]Pinstripe Alley)
🆚 Rays: Fading Hot Streak, Still Threatening
Though the Rays are at .500 and recently cooling off after a strong midseason push, they still carry high-end offensive talent in Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz who pose matchup challenges for any bullpen.([turn0news20]Pinstripe Alley+1Pinstripe Alley+1) Brandon Lowe’s absence further dents power availability.([turn0search6]NBC Sports+4CBSSports.com+4Wikipedia+4)
📊 Betting Buzz & Trends
Moneyline odds make the Yankees the home favorite at around ‑130 to ‑132, with rays underdogs (+108 to +110), and the over/under set at 8.5 runs.([turn0search4] Analysts are split: while New York Post favors the Yankees despite Schlittler's shakiness, other outlets caution that Rasmussen’s dominance and Yankees' underperformance at home suggest betting the unders and Rasmussen under 4.5 strikeouts could pay off.([turn0news19]Covers.com+1New York Post+1)([turn0search2]Covers.com)
Covers.com also suggests fading Rasmussen in strikeout markets, given his slight decline and emphasis on ground balls.([turn0search2]Covers.com)
✅ Outlook and What to Watch
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Schlittler: Can he go 5+ innings again and reduce free passes? His fastball command and first-pitch strike rate will determine how long he lasts.
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Yankees bullpen: How many innings will they need to cover if Schlittler runs short due to inefficiency?
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Offensive adjustments: Without Judge, can McMahon and Goldschmidt continue hot stretches? And can New York scratch out hits against Rasmussen’s ground-ball slider mix?
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Rays consistency: Will they capitalize early or pressure a rookie?
Final Take
This opening game sets the tone for a crucial series. Schlittler brings rookie unpredictability—a mix of electric arm and command struggles—while Rasmussen offers veteran polish and matchup-specific dominance. New York must win without Judge’s power, and Ramon’s own pitching consistency vs. Yankees may tilt the balance. For fans, tonight is a litmus test of whether the Yankees can rally with youth and urgency—or whether the Rays continue to expose weaknesses.
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