Cam Schlittler delivered a commanding pitching performance as the New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, further establishing himself as the leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award and sparking discussions about potential MVP honors. The victory marked the culmination of a three-game Subway Series, with the Yankees winning two of those contests and inching closer to clinching a playoff berth.
Schlittler, who has emerged as a dominant force this season, held the Mets to a single hit over six scoreless innings while recording eight strikeouts. Despite being struck on the right hamstring by a hard-hit comebacker from Mets batter Bo Bichette, Schlittler finished his outing and expressed confidence about making his next start in Arizona. His ERA now stands at an impressive 1.95, a figure that places him among some of the best pitchers in Yankees history, joining the ranks of Spud Chandler, Ron Guidry, and Ray Caldwell as the only qualified Yankees pitchers since 1913 to finish a season with an ERA under 2.00.
The Yankees provided just enough offensive support, with leadoff hitter Ben Rice blasting a solo home run on the fifth pitch of the game, followed by Austin Wells hitting a two-deck home run in the third inning despite entering the day in a prolonged slump at the plate. Christian Scott, the Mets’ starting pitcher, allowed two runs on three hits over six innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks, but was outmatched by Schlittler’s dominant performance.
The Mets, who have shifted focus toward player development following a midseason roster overhaul, have shown resilience with a 22-14 stretch since August 3. Interim manager Andy Green acknowledged the challenge of facing a pitcher of Schlittler’s caliber and emphasized the importance of growth for his team, even as the Mets struggled to generate scoring opportunities against the Yankees’ ace.
Schlittler’s remarkable consistency has been a hallmark of the Yankees’ 2026 campaign, with the right-hander posting a home ERA of just 0.85 over his last five starts and an exceptional 1.14 road ERA—the lowest for a qualified starter since Greg Maddux in 1995. His durability and performance have led teammates and coaches alike to elevate his status beyond Cy Young contention, with some suggesting he is a legitimate MVP candidate. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Schlittler’s value, calling him “awesome” and underscoring his importance to the team’s success.
While some teammates, including Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, supported Schlittler’s MVP viability, others like Aaron Judge acknowledged the rarity of pitchers winning the award, citing the Cy Young as its own significant honor. Meanwhile, the competition for the AL MVP continues with players like Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero also in the mix.
As the regular season winds down, Schlittler has two more starts before the playoffs begin, leaving little doubt that the right-hander’s contributions will be instrumental in the Yankees’ postseason aspirations. The victory over the Mets on Sunday was a fitting cap to a special weekend in New York baseball, marked by intensity and renewed playoff hopes for the Yankees and a focus on development for the Mets.