David Ortiz is dishing out the props where they’re due in The Bronx.
The longtime Yankees nemesis had some big praise for rookie Cam Schlittler on the heels of his stunning wild-card Game 3 performance against the Red Sox on Thursday.
“The first game I saw him pitch, I was like, ‘They have another ace,’” Ortiz told TMZ. “He’s got it, bro. He’s got it. He’s got it.”
Few are denying Schlittler’s star turn after his dazzling playoff debut: eight innings of five-hit, shutout ball with 12 strikeouts.
“There’s different paths to greatness up here,” incumbent Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said after the masterful performance. “But certainly, this guy has come up and delivered right away. He’s got ‘it.’ I don’t know what ‘it’ is. It’s hard to define it. But he’s got it.”
The dominant outing secured an AL Divisional Series berth against the top-seeded Blue Jays, with the best-of-five series off to a rough start for the Bombers north of the border Saturday in a 10-1 loss in Toronto.
The Yankees found themselves on the other side of the equation with Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman quieting their bats for 5 2/3 innings while Luis Gil struggled in the series opener, getting the hook after 2 2/3 innings, four hits and two earned runs.
Still, with Max Friend taking the bump for Sunday’s Game 2, there’s optimism for the Yankees before the series turns to the Bronx.
“This obviously sucks today, but we’ve got an opportunity to go home tomorrow with a tied series,” shortstop Anthony Volpe said following the loss.
If the Yankees can snag a win, Schlittler will indeed get another chance to further impress Ortiz — and the rest of the sports world as the slated Game 4 starter.
He’s already faced the Blue Jays twice, allowing two runs in five innings on July 22, and having less luck letting up four runs in 1 ⅔ innings on Sept. 5.