Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is stepping onto the mound for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, and you just know this rivalry is about to explode. It’s no shocker he’s the guy for Game 1 either; Schlittler is the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award. This dude is legit, and he’s bringing all that heat directly into one of baseball’s nastiest rivalries.
The Feud Is Fired Up Again, Right on Schedule
Man, this ongoing feud between Schlittler and the Red Sox fan base is what’s gonna make these games so wild. He’s originally from the Boston area, believe it or not, but his loyalty definitely ain’t with the Sox anymore. Remember last year’s Wild Card series? That’s where this whole thing really kicked off online. He has not backed down from those fans ever since, and this week? Absolutely no different. Red Sox fans are already going after him hard on social media, but honestly, Schlittler thinks they should have learned their lesson by now. He put it perfectly, telling The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty, “(You’d) think after last time, how much they were talking before, that they might be trying to quiet it down a little bit.” Talk about a blunt message, right?
0.74 ERA and He’s Still Taking That Heat
And why should they quiet down? Because this guy owns them! Schlittler has an absolutely ridiculous 0.74 ERA in his four starts against the Red Sox *this year alone*. That’s not a typo, folks. Last year, after he absolutely trashed the Red Sox fans online and then dominated them in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, he actually received threats. Wild, right? But he gets it, saying he can’t control that noise and the back-and-forth is just part of the deal. “I leave my comments on,” he said. “I let people say whatever they want to say in there. I don’t hide any of that.” He even admitted, “I kind of started all of that in the postseason last year, so I’m willing to take that heat. That’s part of the game and it’s something I don’t mind dealing with.” That’s the kind of attitude you love to see in a rivalry game. He’s owning his part of it and just keeps dealing on the mound.
So, Tuesday night, all eyes are on Schlittler as he steps up, looking to dominate those Red Sox one more time. He’s gunning to give the Yankees a crucial 1-0 series lead right out of the gate. You know Boston fans are gonna be fired up, but can they actually rattle a guy who clearly feeds off that energy? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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