Why did Schlittler struggle?

Schlittler entered Tuesday's game with the AL lead in ERA (1.62) and that changed in a hurry.

The young right-hander went just four-plus innings, allowing a career-worst six earned runs on four homers. His ERA jumped to 2.08 and after such a dominant start to the 2026 season, it was jarring to see Schlittler struggle. But the Yanks believe it was simply a lack of execution.

"I thought the stuff was OK. They hit the ball out of the ballpark. Got to him, obviously," Boone said. "Missing locations…and just long at-bats that added up against him... Took advantage of mistake locations and made him pay for it."

"Not good. Didn’t execute with two strikes to a team that likes to put the ball in the air. Just didn’t get the job done," Schlittler said. "Comes down to execution. Just didn’t make the right pitches when it mattered."

With the Yankees having lost five in a row, they were hoping Schlittler would put a stop to the losing streak. Schlittler welcomed that pressure, but lamented not being able to get it done.

"We’re not playing good ball right now. It’s my job to stop that bleeding and I couldn’t get it done," Schlittler said. "Put our team down four against [Tarik Skubal]. Took a while to experience an outing like that. Take what I can from it and get ready for next week."

Offensive struggles

The now six-game losing streak is mostly due to a lack of offense. On Tuesday, New York had four hits -- the first time they eclipsed three in their last five games. During that span, they have scored 15 runs.

“We know we have a lot of talent. It’s such a long season," Ben Rice said. "It just so happens that right now, it’s kind of like the whole team is going through something all at once.”

Rice went 1-for-4, with his lone hit being a solo shot off Skubal. The hit snapped an 0-for-18 stretch for the slugging first baseman.

Anthony Volpe told The Daily News' Gary Phillips that "everyone's pissed" about the offensive slump and that the lineup is pressing.

"We're all trying to have good at-bats and put stuff together, and then when you want to do it so bad, you probably press," Volpe said. "And it feels like, as an offense, we're pressing.”

The Yankees skipper said he wouldn't go as far as to say he's seeing a lot of pressing from his players, but they have to simplify their at-bats.

"I like our preparation. Our guys are committed and dialed," Boone said. "Nothing’s changed there, but when you have a handful of guys struggling, you might start pressing a little bit. I don’t see a lot of pressing going on, but keeping it small and focusing on winning pitches, winning at-bats. And when you start doing that as a group. All of a sudden that can start to snowball."

The Yankees are in the midst of a 16-game stretch of not having a day off, with one game remaining (5-10 record in that span). They'll look to salvage a win in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.

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