TORONTO — Gerrit Cole couldn’t help but grin when he heard the question.
Standing in the visitors’ clubhouse in Rogers Centre following the New York Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the conversation turned to the abundant confidence of Cole’s rotation mate, Cam Schlittler.
“I think that everybody’s their own individual and they have human traits that make them who they are,” Cole told Sportsnet, offering a diplomatic response while trying to contain a smile.
Cole, the elder statesman of the Yankees’ pitching staff and one of the most respected pitchers in the sport, was referring to Schlittler’s penchant for open, honest and sometimes controversial remarks. Cole said he’s spoken to the 25-year-old Schlittler about the topic but noted that ultimately, it’s not his place to police that.
“I’ve approached it with him in the past,” said Cole. “Like any other thing, let’s just try to make it as efficient as possible. There’s no right or wrong answer. I don’t think anybody’s an expert. I don’t think anybody should be telling anybody what they can or can’t say when it’s their deal.
“But, as we’re constantly trying to improve, let’s make sure we’re just being efficient with what we’re saying,” he continued. “Just find a way to communicate what you want to communicate in the best way to communicate it.”
Schlittler, of course, continued his propensity for such comments while speaking about Blue Jays fans in the lead-up to his start at Rogers Centre on Saturday.
“They’re easy to rage-bait, I think,” Schlittler told MLB.com. “All the stuff last year in the playoffs or whatever it is — they’ve got a whole country behind them, so there’s a lot. They’re passionate about it. You respect them for that, but I don’t really like them. They ended our season last year. I hope everyone’s got that chip on their shoulder.”
Those quotes are in line with Schlitter’s history of not mixing his words, especially when it’s concerning the Blue Jays. Following a rough start against the club last September, the right-hander suggested he was tipping his pitches and then, after a May loss in Yankee Stadium, Schlitter said the Blue Jays are a “team that’s gonna BABIP the (expletive) out of you.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider laughed when asked if he’d heard Schlittler’s latest comments leading into Saturday’s contest.
“Yeah, I don’t think he likes any opposing fan base,” Schneider quipped in his office prior to the game. “Hey, great. I mean, I think everyone uses things to kind of get themselves going a little bit. And he’s having a hell of a year. But yeah, I mean, great.”
Schlittler, who’s enjoying an excellent season atop the Yankees rotation, certainly backed up his verbiage with an impressive showing on the mound in what was easily the best of his five career starts against the Blue Jays.
He allowed just one run — a Kazuma Okamoto solo homer — on six hits over seven frames, walking four and striking out seven. Schlittler didn’t quite have his best stuff, yet did a nice job of pitching out of trouble on several occasions and held serve against Blue Jays’ veteran Kevin Gausman, whose only hit allowed over seven brilliant frames was a Jasson Dominguez solo homer.
Both pitchers left with the game knotted 1-1, a tie that was eventually broken when Paul Goldschmidt launched a two-run homer off Louis Varland in the ninth inning.
“He grinded his way through seven,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone of Schlittler. “First and foremost, he is a strike thrower. So, even though he had a handful of walks today, you feel like he can right that ship at any time. He made some big pitches today when he needed to.”
Schlittler acknowledged his outing was a “grind” and said he’s been working to correct his mechanics over his past few starts.
As for his budding rivalry with the Blue Jays, Schlittler chalked it up to the two clubs being American League East rivals and proceeded to heap praise on his opponents.
“They got a great club over here,” Schlittler said. “And the way it turned out last year, it gets a little chippy. I think there’s a lot of mutual respect between both sides. The fans clash more than the players do, but they got a great team over here and it feels like they play us really well, when we’re here or back home.
“I think it’ll continue to grow throughout the season.”
Cole, who missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, rejoined the Yankees last month and while he won’t pitch during this visit to Toronto, he’s happy to jump into the renewed rivalry.
“It’s a new year and fresh start, but it’s not that you don’t bring the baggage,” said Cole. “You bring a little bit of the baggage with you now. It just adds maybe a little bit more to the series, even though it kind of always has an elevated feel just because it’s a division (matchup) and because the (Blue Jays are) so good on a regular basis. There’s always a little edge when you have some history with the club.”
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As for Schlittler, who leads all AL starters with a 1.82 ERA and 3.3 wins above replacement, Cole says he’s been impressed by the development of the young hurler.
“His baseball acumen is really high,” said Cole. “His pitch arsenal is elite, too. So, he combines the two and is relentless with his attacking mindset. He’s in the zone as much as possible with three different weapons and he’s just got good instincts.”
Instincts that will no doubt play a central role in the Blue Jays-Yankees rivalry for the foreseeable future.