Cam Schlittler delivered a performance that has officially slammed the door shut on the American League Cy Young debate, pulling off a truly historic feat in his final start of the year. If you were still on the fence about who should take home the hardware, Schlittler’s last outing for the New York Yankees has cemented his place in MLB lore, making the decision an absolute no-brainer.
Dude, He Tied Koufax. KOUFAX!
Listen, we’re talking about real, bona fide history here. According to ESPN Insights, Schlittler’s latest start was his *25th* this season where he allowed just one earned run or even zero. Let that sink in for a second: 25 starts with that kind of dominant efficiency! That number ties him with absolute legends Sandy Koufax and Grover Alexander for the second-most starts with 1 or 0 ER allowed in a single season since 1913, not even counting openers. When you’re mentioned in the same breath as Koufax, you know you’ve done something insane. While he only pitched three innings to notch this incredible 25th start, the accomplishment itself is massive.
The Cy Young Race? Yeah, It’s Over.
Schlittler has been absolutely dealing all season, a legitimate contender for the AL Cy Young award. Sure, guys like Dylan Cease from the Toronto Blue Jays and Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians had strong cases, no doubt. But after Schlittler’s history-tying performance, the conversation is done. You just can’t compare it. He’s tied with two all-time greats for most starts allowing at most one run in a season. The dude finished his 2026 campaign with a ridiculous 1.96 ERA, racked up 239 strikeouts, posted a 14-6 record, held a tiny 0.92 WHIP, and walked only 49 batters in 193.2 innings across 33 starts. Those are Cy Young numbers, period. This feat, tying Koufax and Alexander, truly solidifies him as the AL’s best pitcher this season.
The Yankees, even without Aaron Judge potentially in the lineup, clinched a home playoff series against the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round. With Schlittler having wrapped up his season, all eyes will be on the official announcement. This dude put together a season for the ages, and it’s time for him to get the recognition he earned. No question, the AL Cy Young trophy belongs to Cam Schlittler.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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