A Yankees 25-Year-Old’s Starters Case for the 2026 AL Cy Young Award
Throughout the 2026 MLB season, New York Yankees starter Cam Schlittler has become one of the most prolific pitchers in all of baseball. The 25-year-old has propelled his game since his rookie season a year ago and was named an all-star for the first time. His consistency on the mound is a big reason why the Yankees are nearly a 90-win team in 2026, with all the injuries and offensive struggles at the plate that New York saw. Schlittler will have one more start this year on Thursday, September 24th, in the Yankees’ final game in a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. So, with the regular season nearly at a close, it’s time to make a case for the 25-year-old’s chances at the 2026 AL Cy Young Award.
Schlittler leads the AL with a 1.94 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He is tied fourth in the American League with 14 wins alongside Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams. The 25-year-old is second in innings pitched with nearly 191 innings on the mound behind Kansas City Royals Michael Wacha’s 194. Then Schlittler is third in strikeouts with 234, just sitting underneath Williams and Toronto Blue Jays Dylan Cease. Just from over a season ago, the 2026 all-star pitcher has thrown 150 more strikeouts than last season. The 25-year-old has allowed 50 runs in 32 starts, which is better than Williams’ 77 runs in 31 starts, Cease’s 54 runs in 29 starts, and Wacha’s 76 runs in 31 starts.
Out of the Yankees starters, Schlittler has started the most games and obtained the most wins, with other starters such as Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Max Fried dealing with injuries throughout the year. The 2026 all-star winning a 15th game, especially against the Rays, a team the Yankees have been chasing for most of the season. New York is six games back from Tampa Bay in the AL East Division. Even if the Bronx Bombers don’t win the division, let alone the series, if Schlittler puts up a hell of a performance on Thursday night, the conversation about his AL Cy Young Award case could grow further.
The 2026 all-star has recorded four games with 10 or more strikeouts this season. Most notably, his season-high of 13 punchouts happened against the Cincinnati Reds, where he accomplished that feat in just six innings. Although he has six losses this year, Schlittler has showcased how dominant he can be at such a young age. The 25-year-old should certainly be the favorite to take home the AL Cy Young Award.
