NEW YORK – Tucked deep inside a hooded sweatshirt, Cam Schlittler moved through the Yankees’ clubhouse early on Thursday afternoon, a video tablet anchored to his right hand. He wore the steely expression of someone focused on the future, not quite ready to celebrate the end of a Cy Young Award-caliber campaign. Yet this is as good a time as any to appreciate the view. Schlittler put the finishing touches on his stat line with three solid innings in New York’s 6-4 win over the Rays, finishing with a 1.95 ERA to earn a place among the finest single-season performers in Yankees history. Only Spud Chandler (1.64 in 1943) and Ron Guidry (1.74 in 1978) have posted a lower ERA in franchise history than Schlittler, who permitted two runs (one earned) and three hits over three innings. Schlittler’s 1.95 ERA is the American League’s lowest since Justin Verlander posted a 1.75 ERA for the Astros in 2022. The Yankees held Schlittler’s pitch count to 70 in his 33rd and final start of the regular season, setting the right-hander up for a starting assignment in the American League Wild Card Series. Though many expected it would be a lock for the Cy Young frontrunner to start Game 1, the Yankees are weighing the idea of having Schlittler go instead in Game 2. Left-hander Max Fried is receiving strong consideration for the opening assignment, according to pitching coach Matt Blake.
