Cam Schlittler is one start away from joining Ron Guidry in Yankees history

After his electric performance in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card series versus the Boston Red Sox last season, expectations for New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler suddenly grew for 2026.

The 25-year-old was a seventh round selection in the 2022 draft by New York , but nonetheless rocketed through the minor leagues to make his debut in July 2025. Over that regular season, he made 14 starts with a 2.96 ERA.

With the season he had plus that exceptional showing against Boston in a winner-take-all playoff game, anyone could have said he would be a good pitcher. However, Schlittler's performance this season has somehow blown expectations out of the water.

Ahead of his 33rd and final start of the regular season Thursday versus the Tampa Bay Rays , the All-Star can make some franchise history. Per Gary Phillips of NY Daily News, Schlittler can become the third Yankee starting pitcher ever to finish a season with an ERA below 2.00.

Across 32 starts, Schlittler is 14-6 with a 1.94 ERA. He has pitched 190 ⅔ innings, striking out 234 and walking 47. He had a splendid half-season in 2025, but has impressively toned down the walks and upped the strikeouts this year.

With the way things look currently, Schlittler will win the AL Cy Young Award when it is announced in November. If so, he will become the seventh Yankee to win the award, and would join his teammate Gerrit Cole (2023) in the honor.

Aug 28, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

New York is locked into their current position of the No. 4 seed in the AL. They will host the No. 5 seed in the Wild Card round, with the winner advancing to take on the Rays in the Division Series starting Oct. 3.

In all likelihood, it will be a rematch of last year's Wild Card with the Red Sox traveling to the Bronx for a best-of-three. Including that series, Schlittler is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts against his hometown team in his brief career.

With the Massachusetts native taking the mound Thursday versus Tampa Bay , he likely will not pitch Game 1 against Boston next Tuesday. A normal rest schedule would have him in line for Wednesday's Game 2.