Dylan Cease absolutely imploded on Monday night against the Athletics, and just like that, the American League Cy Young race took a seismic turn. Coming into the game, Cease was one of the top two favorites for the award, neck and neck with Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler. But that forgettable performance against the Athletics? It just opened the door wide for Schlittler to sprint right through it.
Cease’s Nightmare Outing Changes Everything
Monday was a brutal night for Cease, who got shelled for five runs, with four of them earned, on four hits over just five innings. That difficult outing pushed his season ERA up to 2.40, a number that suddenly looks a lot softer next to his closest competitor. Losing that game 6-5 against the Athletics? Yeah, that one hurts. It is a tough blow, especially when you consider the dominant season Cease has otherwise put together. Through 27 starts, the guy still boasts a 1.04 WHIP and an impressive 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But in a race this tight, one bad night can feel like an entire season unraveling.
Schlittler Is Seizing the Moment
While Cease was struggling, Cam Schlittler has been absolutely lights out. The Yankees sophomore has been equally dominant, racking up 29 appearances for New York. His numbers are just ridiculous: a 2.04 ERA, a stingy 0.94 WHIP, and a superior 4.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. This timing for Schlittler could not be better, seriously. He is scheduled to hit the mound on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, giving him an immediate shot to build on his case while Cease can only watch from the sidelines. What an opportunity to put distance between himself and the competition!
Cease gets another chance to turn things around this Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, the final game of Toronto’s three-game series against that division opponent. That start is going to be absolutely critical, not just for his individual Cy Young hopes, but for the Blue Jays’ postseason aspirations too. Toronto is sitting at 72-73 in the final stretch of the regular season, just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for that last American League Wild Card spot. With only 17 games left, every single pitch, every single start, matters big time. One poor outing does not erase an exceptional season, but with Schlittler continuously putting up dominant numbers, the Yankees right-hander might have just been handed the biggest advantage in one of the AL’s closest individual races.
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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