Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler is absolutely dominating, leading the American League Cy Young race in just his second big-league season, making his closest competition look like an afterthought as the regular season winds down. With less than three weeks left in the 2026 MLB calendar, this thing might feel decided, but Dylan Cease is still fighting for it.
Schlittler Is Built Different, and the AL Is Noticed
We’re talking about a guy who debuted just over a year ago, right? And he’s already pushing for the AL’s top pitching award. Everyone, including the experts, thought the Yankees would put him on the injured list to manage his innings after he threw a career-high 164 frames last season across the majors, minors, and playoffs. Boy, were they wrong! Schlittler is up to 30 starts and 178 ⅔ innings. Clearly, the Yankees are all-in on making a World Series run, and Schlittler is their ace, full speed ahead.
And the stats? They’re just ridiculous. This dude is 13-6 with a 2.01 ERA, which not only leads the AL but also clocks in with a 209 ERA+. His 0.92 WHIP is sparkling, and he’s punched out 220 batters while only walking 42. He leads all AL pitchers with a 6.7 WAR, meaning he’s not just getting counting stats, he’s delivering pure value. Schlittler leads Cease in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched. It’s a complete package, and he’s proving that wins aren’t everything in the Cy Young anymore when you’re this good: Sonny Gray is 17-4, and he’s not even a serious contender!
Cease Falters, Schlittler Runs Away With It
Blue Jays righty Dylan Cease, who was the AL All-Star Game starter and a favorite for this award for a while, has hit a wall at the worst possible time. He just coughed up five runs, four of them earned, in five innings out in Sacramento. That outing bumped his record to 10-5 with a 2.40 ERA. He’s got 227 strikeouts in 161 ⅓ innings, walking 67 with a 1.04 WHIP. His 5.8 WAR is solid, but it’s not Schlittler’s 6.7. Cease has the strikeout edge, but everywhere else, Schlittler has pulled away.
Schlittler is expected to hit the mound on September 13 against the Mets and then again on September 19 in Arizona. It would be wild if he didn’t get at least 32 starts this season. This kid is on pace to become the first Yankees Cy Young winner since Gerrit Cole in 2023, and only the seventh in franchise history. Keep your eyes peeled, because this race, while appearing settled, still has a few starts left.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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