Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Cam Schlittler Shine in Subway Series

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 14, 2026

Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler threw six scoreless innings with just one hit allowed, leading New York to a 2-0 victory over the Mets and strengthening his case for the AL Cy Young Award. Despite Schlittler’s dominance, the team is also focused on Aaron Judge’s return from injury as they aim to build momentum going forward.

Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler delivered another strong performance in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium, bolstering his standing as a leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award. Schlittler pitched six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, a double by Mets’ Brett Baty, who had returned to the lineup after missing two games with left knee pain.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Schlittler’s dominant outing and suggested the right-hander deserved consideration for the American League MVP award as well. “This is the kind of season where pitchers get in that mix, too,” Boone said. Schlittler currently leads the AL with a 1.95 ERA and has thrown a league-best 184⅔ innings this season. Despite Boone’s endorsement, the pitcher remains a long shot for MVP honors, a distinction rarely awarded to pitchers since Clayton Kershaw won in the National League in 2014 and Justin Verlander in the American League in 2011.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, a three-time AL MVP, acknowledged Schlittler’s outstanding pitching but emphasized that the MVP and Cy Young awards serve different purposes. “He’s definitely pitching like an MVP,” Judge said. “They’ve got a Cy Young Award for a reason: for the best pitcher in the game. He’s got my vote for Cy Young.”

Judge himself has struggled at the plate since returning from a rib stress fracture that sidelined him for more than three months. The three-time MVP last won the award in 2025, having missed most of 2023 due to a torn ligament in his toe. Since resuming play this homestand without a minor league rehab stint, Judge is 3-for-17 with no extra-base hits and nine strikeouts. Sunday, he went hitless in three at-bats with three strikeouts, ending the Subway Series 0-for-8 with five strikeouts against the Mets. Despite the slow start, Judge stated he felt "really good" and prioritized team success over individual performance.

Manager Boone remains optimistic about Judge’s form, noting he “feels close at the plate” and has shown glimpses of his usual production, including hitting three balls over 100 mph since returning. The Yankees have won four of five games with Judge back in the lineup.

For the Mets, Baty’s double was the only hit Schlittler conceded in the game. Interim Mets manager Andy Green highlighted Baty’s quick recovery and infectious enthusiasm after returning from injury. Baty has maintained a potent offensive presence, carrying a 1.101 OPS over his last 15 games.

Reliever Nate Lavender pitched a scoreless seventh inning, bouncing back from his most recent outing in Miami where he allowed three earned runs. Green praised his resilience, saying Lavender was “right back to being himself,” and expressed confidence in his continued development.

The Mets are set to start rookie right-hander Jonah Tong on Monday against Baltimore at Citi Field. Tong, recently recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, pitched five innings with four earned runs in a win over Miami last week.

The two teams split the season series, with the Mets holding a 72-86 all-time lead in regular-season Subway Series contests.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.