Cam Schlittler left his regular-season finale with one more piece of Yankees history in hand and a postseason decision still waiting for him. The right-hander worked three controlled innings against the Rays on Thursday in New York, allowing two runs, only one earned, on three hits while striking out five.
The Yankees capped Schlittler at 70 pitches in his 33rd start, preserving him for the American League Wild Card Series. Whether that means the opener or Game 2 remains unsettled. Max Fried, the veteran left-hander, is being strongly considered for the Game 1 assignment, while Schlittler could follow him in the second game.
For Schlittler, the abbreviated outing locked in a 1.95 ERA, a number that now sits near the top of the club’s single-season record book. Only Spud Chandler, at 1.64 in 1943, and Ron Guidry, at 1.74 in 1978, have completed a Yankees season with a lower ERA.
A finish worthy of the record book
Schlittler’s 1.95 mark is also the best ERA posted in the American League since Justin Verlander finished at 1.75 for Houston in 2022. His five strikeouts against Tampa Bay brought his season total to 239.
That strikeout total matches Jack Chesbro’s 1904 total for fourth place on the Yankees’ single-season list. Gerrit Cole owns two higher seasons, with 257 in 2022 and 243 in 2021, while Guidry punched out 248 hitters during his 1978 campaign.
| Yankees single-season strikeout leaders mentioned | Strikeouts | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Gerrit Cole | 257 | 2022 |
| Ron Guidry | 248 | 1978 |
| Gerrit Cole | 243 | 2021 |
| Cam Schlittler | 239 | Current season |
| Jack Chesbro | 239 | 1904 |
Cy Young case gained strength down the stretch
For much of the year, Schlittler and Toronto’s Dylan Cease had been closely linked in the American League Cy Young discussion. Schlittler’s finish gave his candidacy considerable momentum.
Beginning with his Aug. 9 outing against Atlanta, Schlittler made nine starts and covered 54 innings. During that stretch, he posted a 1.17 ERA, yielding 10 runs, seven of them earned. Opponents managed 27 hits, while Schlittler issued 18 walks and struck out 68.
If he wins the award, Schlittler would become the seventh Yankees pitcher to claim a Cy Young and the first since Cole in 2023.
Before the Rays game, Schlittler moved quietly through the clubhouse with the hood of his sweatshirt up and a tablet in his right hand, looking more like a pitcher preparing for the next assignment than one pausing to admire a completed season. The Yankees now have a short window to decide exactly when that next assignment will come.
