Cam Schlittler had made 14 major league starts before taking the ball in Game 3 of last year’s wild-card series against the Red Sox in The Bronx.
asserted
Schlittler → make → Bronx
“I thought [the Yankees] were in trouble when they lost the first game of that series,’’ an American League scout said Monday.
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scout → think → series
“I didn’t know yet that Cam Schlittler was Cam Schlittler.”
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Schlittler → know → ?
Try it freeNow, it’s no secret.
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it → try → it
And instead of asking the right-hander to save their season, as they did in 2025, the Yankees are looking for Schlittler to get them out of the gate fast.
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Schlittler → ask → gate
It’s why the 25-year-old, who is certain to win his first AL Cy Young Award this offseason, was tabbed to pitch Tuesday night’s opener at the Stadium by Aaron Boone and the pitching department.
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who → ’ → Boone
“For him to put faith in me to go out there and put a good performance in in Game 1, that’s definitely a great feeling,’’ Schlittler said before the Yankees worked out in The Bronx on Monday.
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Yankees → put → Monday
In that decisive Game 3 against Boston, Schlittler tossed eight shutout innings — striking out 12 and walking none — to knock off the Red Sox.
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Schlittler → toss → Sox
He wasn’t as dominant against the Blue Jays in the ALDS, but that was before Schlittler established himself as one of the top pitchers in the game.
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Schlittler → establish → game
And the Walpole, Mass., native will be facing his hometown Red Sox, a franchise — and fanbase — he’s developed a long history with.
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he → face → history
He hasn’t shied away from all aspects of the rivalry — both good and bad — in this age of social media.
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He → shy → media
Last year, Schlittler said he was disappointed by how some Red Sox fans went after not only him but his family during the postseason, calling it “personal.”
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fans → say → it
This time around, Schlittler said he knows what to expect.
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he → say → what
“I wouldn’t say I’m always on my phone looking for that stuff,’’ Schlittler said.
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Schlittler → say → stuff
“At the same time, I don’t really live under a rock.
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I → live → rock
I’ve found ways to use that to my advantage.
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I → find → advantage
I think I’m good at keeping receipts.
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I → think → receipts
At the end of the day, I’m locked into going in there [Tuesday] and doing my job.
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I → lock → job
He’s done that better than just about anyone in the American League in his first full season in the majors, finishing with an AL-best 1.95 ERA, as well as 239 strikeouts over 33 starts.
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He → do → starts
While that won’t be forgotten if Tuesday night doesn’t go Schlittler’s way, those accomplishments will certainly look less impressive.
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accomplishments → forget → way
And he knows that what happens in these playoffs will go a long way in defining his legacy.
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happens → know → legacy
Still, in a rotation that includes high-priced free agents like Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón
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that → include → Fried
, Schlittler has clearly stood apart.
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Schlittler → stand → ?
But he’s not ready to put himself in their category — yet.
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he → ’ → category
“I think an ace is someone that has longevity [and] success in their career over a handful of seasons and they’ve shown consistency,’’ Schlittler said.
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Schlittler → think → consistency
“I think I’ve shown consistency over a year and a half, but I still think we’ve got a long way to go.
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we → think → way
We’ve got a lot of guys in this rotation that have a lot of experience and have proven to be an ace.
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that → get → experience
I have confidence in myself to kind of treat myself like an ace, but I wouldn’t really define that yet.’’
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Boone is ready to take that leap.
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Boone → have → leap
“He’s turned into an ace in the sport,’’ the manager said.
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manager → turn → sport
“He’s obviously super talented and really skilled, but he’s also really tough and able to focus.
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he → ’ → ?
And it seems like the bigger the game, the better he seems to be here in his young career.’’
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he → seem → career
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