Following his latest dominant outing, New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler has more than likely jumped in front as the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.
Looking to make a loud statement, Schlittler, back on Tuesday, September 8th, put on an absolute pitching clinic when in front of 46,211 pumped-up Yankee Stadium fans, struck out 10 batters while allowing only three hits and one earned run in a Yankees 5-3 win against the Colorado Rockies.
Yankees Cam Schlittler Making a Loud Statement in Race for AL Cy Young
Schlittler, who as of September 11th is second in the American League with 178.2 innings pitched, improved his record to 13-6 and an AL leading 2.01 ERA, while sitting third in the AL with 220 strikeouts, seven behind Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease who is second, and also has a strong case in winning the AL Cy Young Award.
In his first full season, 25-year-old Schlittler has shown no nerves and has been consistent, leading the majors with 22 outings in allowing one run or fewer.
Yankee manager Aaron Boone couldn’t say enough about his ace pitcher whom he called the “best pitcher in the league.”
This season, in Schlittler’s starts, the Yankees are a solid 19-11.
Following this September 8th outing against Colorado, the Yankees posted a message on social media stating,
“Cam Schlittler’s 2.01 ERA is the fourth-lowest by a Yankee through their first 30 starts of a season since 1913 (When ER became an official stat).”
Despite this phenomenal season Schlittler is having, nothing is guaranteed as he finds himself in a suspenseful neck-and neck race down the stretch with Cease for the AL Cy Young.
Blue Jays Dylan Cease Making Strong Case To Win AL Cy Young
It’s no secret that it’s been a two horse race for the AL Cy Young Award for quite some time between Cease and Schlittler.
Cease, who is in his first year of a seven year $210 million deal has been money for the Blue Jays. In what has been a near flawless season for Cease, this 30 year-old enjoyed perhaps his finest month in July which included a July 8th outing in San Francisco where he struck out 11 over eight innings and allowed only one hit in a 10-0 win against the Giants.
17 days later, in a July 25th outing at Fenway Park, Cease struck out 12 and allowed only one hit over eight innings in an eventual 6-0 win against the Boston Red Sox.
Cease, whose specialty is his four-seam fastball and slider, hit a speed bump in the AL Cy Young race when on Monday, September 7th in front of 7,467 fans at Sutter Health Park, he uncharacteristically surrendered four hits, five runs, four earned runs, two bases on ball and six strikeouts during a 6-5 Blue Jays loss against the A’s. This could be the game which when voting is tabulated, costs Cease the AL Cy Young Award.
What’s alarming for Jays fans is the drop of velocity as Cease, whose fastball averaged 97.1 this season, averaged only 94.9 mph against the A’s.
“It’s just late in the season and I’ve got to roll with what I’ve got and figure how I can maximize that better,” Cease said afterwards.
After that start against the A’s, Cease saw his ERA jump from 2.25 to 2.40. Still it’s been an unbelievable season for Cease who has a 10-5 record with 227 strikeouts in 161.1 innings. It’s just that he’s going up against a pitcher in Schlittler who as of lately has been a tad better.
Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams Should Get Some Serious AL Cy Young Consideration
Though he probably won’t end up winning, Cleveland Guardians ace starter, Gavin Williams is having a solid season and should be up there in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Williams, affectionately known as “The Big Rig,” leads as of September 11th, the American League with 228 strikeouts and in 169.0 innings has put together a 13-7 record with a 3.78 ERA.
This 27 year-old fireballer started off September with his best start of the season when on September 1st at home Williams struck out 13 while allowing only two hits and one run in a 6-1 win against the Blue Jays.
Following that win, Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey was full of praise for the right-hander in saying, “The best starter in the league. No doubt about it.”
Five days later, Williams surrendered four hits and two runs while racking up 11 strikeouts in a game Cleveland would win 3-2 in 10 innings against the Detroit Tigers.
Another example of Williams dominance is that on 11 occasions he has reached double-digits for strikeouts in a game this season.
Right now, the AL Cy Young Award race is still wide open and will more than likely come down to the final weekend of the regular season.
While it looks to be a two man race between Cease and Schlittler, Williams is certainly not out of the running.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
