Forget Aaron Judge, the Yankees actually have someone making serious noise in the AL MVP race this season. ESPN analyst Bradford Doolittle’s advanced “AXE” rating has Cam Schlittler sitting at number two, right behind Yordan Alvarez, and not by much at all. While Ben Rice has put in great work, his defensive value keeps his MVP odds slim. But Schlittler? This dude is throwing heat in a way that’s got people talking about MVP for a pitcher, which is wild.
This Pitcher’s Numbers Are Absolutely Bonkers
Doolittle isn’t holding back, putting Schlittler at 143.0 AXE, just a hair behind Alvarez’s 146.9. “Front-runner: Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (146.9 AXE). Next nine: 2, Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (143.0),” Doolittle writes. That’s some serious company for a guy on the mound. Schlittler has been absolutely dominant this season, plain and simple. We’re talking 31 starts, a ridiculous 1.95 ERA, and 7.1 bWAR. Those aren’t just good numbers, they’re “Cy Young favorite” numbers, which Doolittle straight up says Schlittler is. Yordan Alvarez might be gunning for the Triple Crown, but the fact that Schlittler is even in this conversation tells you everything about his year.
The Near-Impossible Path to MVP Glory
Here’s where it gets real, though. While Schlittler is amazing, winning the AL MVP as a pitcher is significantly more difficult. Doolittle calls it an “uphill battle” and says it would take a “near-perfect set of circumstances” for Schlittler to actually snag the honor. We’re talking about needing at least one more lengthy, no-run start to snag the MLB ERA title, not just the AL one. Then, you need a bunch of other stuff to break his way: Alvarez has to somehow lose the Triple Crown, and the Astros have to miss the playoffs. On top of that, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays needs to absolutely tank his final few games, and the Rays need to drop out of the AL East lead. Yeah, that’s a whole lot of moving parts.
Look, it’s pretty much “nearly impossible” for Schlittler to walk away with the AL MVP this year. But the fact that Doolittle, an ESPN analyst, is even willing to name a pitcher as a legitimate candidate? That’s the real story right there. Pitchers basically never have a chance at this award, so Schlittler’s performance is truly something special. He’s probably got that Cy Young locked up, and that’s a huge win itself. As for what’s next, all eyes are on his potential final start and if he can hit those crazy targets. In other news around the AL, it looks like the Mariners aren’t picking up Victor Robles’ $9M option this offseason. It’s always something, right?
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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