NEW YORK – Tucked deep inside a hooded sweatshirt, Cam Schlittler moved through the Yankees’ clubhouse early on Thursday, a video tablet anchored to his right hand. He wore the steely expression of someone focused on the future, not quite ready to celebrate the end of a Cy Young Award-caliber campaign.
Yet this is as good a time as any to appreciate the view. Schlittler put the finishing touches on his stat line in New York’s 6-4 win over the Rays, etching his 1.95 ERA alongside the finest pitching seasons in Yankees history.
“In hindsight, you look at the whole season and what I’ve been able to accomplish with the guys in this locker room – it’s been special,” Schlittler said. “There’s always more work to be done. You can always get better, and I’m going to take that confidence into the Wild Card [Series].”
Schlittler’s ERA is the Yankees’ lowest since Ron Guidry posted a 1.74 mark in 1978. Since ERA became an official stat in 1913, only Spud Chandler (1.64 in 1943) and Guidry have posted lower ERAs for the franchise than Schlittler.
The 1.95 ERA is also the American League’s lowest since Justin Verlander posted a 1.75 mark for the Astros in 2022.
“He just believes he’s going to get every single person out,” said catcher Austin Wells. “I think if you’re a hitter, you probably feel that a little bit, too. He’s going right after you. He doesn’t really care who’s in the box.”
The Yankees held Schlittler to 70 pitches in his 33rd and final start of the regular season, lining the right-hander up for the American League Wild Card Series. He permitted two runs (one earned) and three hits over three innings.
Though Schlittler had been widely expected to start Game 1, the Yankees are considering using him in Game 2. Left-hander Max Fried would be on extra rest and is receiving strong consideration for the opening assignment, according to pitching coach Matt Blake.
Blake acknowledged that Schlittler has “earned the right to pitch Game 1.”
“It’s just making sure he gets through this start, making sure he’s in good position to handle a start on five days’ [rest] again,” Blake said. “It’s just taking an inventory of where all our starters are to give us the best chance in a three-game series.”
Schlittler said he feels “great” and would be ready for that assignment.
“Who wouldn’t want to start the first game?” Schlittler said. “I feel like this whole pitching staff kind of deserves it. We’re all competitors. At the end of the day, whatever [manager Aaron] Boone decides, that’s what we’re going to roll with.”
Should the Yankees advance, Schlittler appears positioned to start Games 2 and 5 of the AL Division Series – another two cracks at the Rays, potentially. But first, they’ve got to get there.
“We’ll talk and do what we think is best for our club,” Boone said. “He’s the guy we want the ball with, whether that’s Game 1 or Game 2. You’re trying to play out the whole thing; you want to win the whole thing, and you want him to have the most opportunities that he can.”
Schlittler struck out five, ending the regular season with 239 strikeouts. That is tied with Jack Chesbro (239 in 1904) for the fourth most by a Yankee in a single season; only Gerrit Cole (257 in 2022, 243 in ’21) and Guidry (248 in 1978) have recorded more.
Neck and neck with the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease in the Cy Young conversation for much of the season, Schlittler separated himself with a strong finish. He pitched to a 1.17 ERA (10 runs, seven earned) over his final nine starts, spanning 54 innings.
Schlittler permitted just 27 hits and 18 walks over that span, dating to Aug. 9 vs. Atlanta, while striking out 68.
“He just doubled down on what we saw last year,” Blake said. “The fact that he’s held velo the way he has, the fact that he’s thrown probably more strikes than he did in July and August – it’s a testament to the work that he put in over the course of 30-plus starts to put himself in this spot.”
Schlittler would become the seventh Yankee to win the Cy Young Award and the first since Cole in 2023. The others are: Bob Turley (1958), Whitey Ford (1961), Sparky Lyle (1977), Guidry (1978) and Roger Clemens (2001).
That all can wait until a quiet evening in November. Until then, Schlittler’s focus is on bringing a different kind of hardware to the Bronx – a trophy.
“The environment, it’s electric,” Schlittler said. “Being home is important. To be in front of these fans, it’s going to be special.”