Cam Schlittler has been near-perfect on the road and poor at home.
It’s a trend the Yankees and their ace are going to have to figure out and fix.
The righty suffered through the second-shortest stint of his career, giving up four earned runs in just three innings against the Cardinals.
Schlittler’s usually immaculate control abandoned him as he walked a season-high five.
“I take pride in having control and limiting those walks. Don’t really have an excuse for it,” Schlittler said. “So it wasn’t my night, and I got to be better there.”
Schlittler walked leadoff hitter JJ Wetherholt and served up a two-run shot to Alec Burleson.
Then came José Fermin’s RBI double and Nathan Church’s RBI single.
“I feel fine. [I] didn’t get in that rhythm,” Schlittler said. “I’ve just got to be better. Things have been a lot easier on the road. I feel like I’ve been dominant on the road and haven’t been able to do that here. And it’s frustrating. At some point, we’ve got to make an adjustment, and I’ve got to perform in front of the fans.”
It’s an odd trend heading in the wrong direction.
While Schlittler has been great on the road — 8-2 with a 1.10 ERA — after Monday, he’s just 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 10 starts in The Bronx.
“The bad ones I have are always here, and that’s frustrating. Things should be easier here playing in front of our fans,’’ Schlittler said. “Frustrating for them, too. They come here expecting good performances and not being able to deliver. I’ve got another opportunity Sunday and just got to be better.”
Manager Aaron Boone added: “He just never got into a good rhythm. I felt like a lot — for him — noncompetitive pitches where some easy takes for them.”
As one top prospect is set to arrive in George Lombard Jr., a former No. 1 prospect is heading back to the minors, as Jasson Domínguez was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Monday’s loss to make room for newly acquired Heliot Ramos.
The Yankees chose to keep Spencer Jones on the major league roster.
Jones has hit better than Domínguez of late and can play center field.
Domínguez has struggled at the plate and on defense, where he’s limited to the corner outfield spots.
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The 23-year-old has shown flashes of potential but has been unable to lock down a regular spot in the lineup when given the opportunity — as he was when Aaron Judge got hurt.
Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt are getting closer to rejoining the pitching staff after coming back from elbow injuries.
Rodón pitched two innings of live batting practice Monday at the Stadium and the left-hander said the session went well.
The lefty may make a minor league rehab appearance Saturday, according to Boone and GM Brian Cashman said Rodón (left elbow inflammation) could be back this month.
Schmidt, coming back from last year’s Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to throw three innings of live BP 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.”
Cashman said it was “possible,” but “unlikely” that rookie Carlos Lagrange would recover from his shoulder injury in time to contribute this year.
To open up a spot for Luis García Jr., Max Schuemann was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
