Why Yankees' Cam Schlittler is going to win AL Cy Young over Dylan Cease

His latest start may have been overshadowed by the much-anticipated return of three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge. Still, New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler once again padded his case to be the 2026 American League Cy Young Award winner as he dealt seven innings of one-run baseball and struck out 10 batters in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night.

Despite the season that Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease has put together, it is evident that the 25-year-old has separated himself from the pack. As the Yankees attempt to end the season on a high note and enter the 2026 postseason playing their best baseball, Schlittler will have a chance to achieve a special personal milestone, even if his mind won't be pushed towards thinking about such a self-serving narrative with less than a month remaining in the regular season.

"Pushing that to the side and focusing on these last three weeks. I feel like it's been good so far but a lot of things can happen," Schlittler told reporters after the win. "If I go out there and do my job and put this team in position to win, that opportunity might be there."

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Cam Schlittler is atop the sport in several important statistics

Schlittler has gone 13-6 with a 2.01 ERA, a 2.60 FIP, and 220 strikeouts across 178.2 innings thus far . He leads the AL in ERA. Further, he ranks second in innings pitched, third in strikeouts, and second in WHIP.

According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 99th percentile in terms of Pitching Run Value, the 100th percentile in Fastball Run Value, and the 95th percentile in K%.

"I feel like I've been able to gradually build up those innings each season in the Minor Leagues," Schlitter told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "I feel like, yeah, I'm in a really good spot. I feel like I've been able to take care of my stuff and rely on my teammates and the staff to really push me through that."

Voters could view Schlittler's season as more impactful given his age

With his latest outing, the Massachusetts native extended his franchise record with 20 starts this season of giving up one run or fewer. Additionally, many of the phenom's aforementioned statistics will be considered career highs or career bests by the end of his regular season.

Writers may view Schlittler's season as more impactful and impressive given his age. Of course, one could just as easily say that the 30-year-old Cease is just as noteworthy since he's been able to be dominant in his eighth season, but New York's trusty righty has also outdone the Milton native in several areas to this point.

Cease has been a solid pitcher since his breakout season with the Chicago White Sox in 2021, but Schlittler's sophomore dominance has been transformative for a New York squad that has prided itself on having a deadly rotation that can shut down any lineup.

Even with arms like Gerrit Cole , Max Fried , and Carlos Rodon , Schlittler has stood out as a starter that opposing teams would rather not face. While the other three talents have each dealt with injuries at different points in 2026, the former seventh-round pick has been a staunch presence in the Yankees' rotation. He's regularly been able to provide quality starts and be a guaranteed

Whether or not the Yankees achieve their ultimate goal of winning the franchise's 28th World Series remains to be seen, but Schlittler's sensational sophomore year should place him in prime position to bring home some prestigious hardware at the end of the season.

"He's been the best pitcher in the league," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "When you have that going all year at the top of your rotation, that's massive. And that's what he's been."