Cam Schlittler has been the top pitcher in baseball this season. The case for him being the best player in the American League is straightforward.
The 25-year-old right-hander leads the AL with a 1.94 ERA and is tied for first in WHIP with Drew Rasmussen at 0.91. He has 234 strikeouts, third in the league behind Gavin Williams of the Cleveland Guardians and Dylan Cease. He has allowed one or no runs in 21 of his 28 starts, a franchise record for the Yankees.
He sits atop the league in bWAR at 7.0, a lead that puts him above several MVP candidates, including Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, and Rays sensation Junior Caminero.
The Pitching Staff Around Him
A Yankees pitching staff that leads all of baseball with a 3.21 team ERA has relied heavily on Schlittler, who has served as its foundation. That staff, however, has faced significant injury issues.
Tommy John surgery kept Gerrit Cole out until May 22, when he finally made his season debut. Carlos Rodón opened the year on the injured list, having undergone surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies. Rodón debuted May 10, then returned again July 3, and came back Aug. 18.
Twice Max Fried was placed on the IL. He first went there in May 13, carrying a left elbow bone bruise, then came back in July 22. He went on the IL again Aug. 17, returning Aug. 29. Ryan Weathers, meanwhile, was put on the IL Aug. 23, suffering from a left forearm flexor strain.
The Yankees depended on Schlittler making every start and staying dominant to keep the rotation from sinking.
The Offense Behind Him
After Aaron Judge was put on the injured list to start June, the Yankees’ offense fell apart. Since June 1, their hitting has dropped to a .229 average with a .297 on-base percentage.
The injury to Judge placed added strain on Schlittler and the pitching staff to win games without him. Judge suffered a torn ligament in his toe, which sent the 2023 season off the rails. The Yankees went 25-31 in his absence and failed to reach the postseason.
The 2026 Season
The Yankees finished 2026 at 48-41 while Judge sat out, yet they still made the postseason thanks to a pitching staff that excelled under Schlittler’s leadership. That performance gave them home-field advantage for the American League Wild Card Series.
Why Schlittler Fits the MVP Definition
By the award’s definition, Schlittler has been the most valuable player on his team. Without him, the Yankees do not survive Judge’s absence.
Even when the Yankees struggled to score just three runs a game through the dog days of summer, Schlittler kept the pitching staff steady enough to let the team hang on.
The Competition
On his own, Alvarez has been dominant. The big left-handed hitter carries a .316 batting average, 41 home runs and 102 RBI, and he is making a bid for the Triple Crown that seems out of reach.
No other player has won an MVP award while serving as a primary designated hitter, and Shohei Ohtani was the first to do it, hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in the same season.
Caminero is the linchpin of the AL-leading Rays’ lineup, trailing Schlittler in bWAR by more than a full win, while his .274 average and 41 home runs keep him in the thick of the AL MVP race.
A Historic Season
Justin Verlander was the last pitcher to take home the American League MVP award, a title he earned back in 2011. That season, he led the league in bWAR with 8.6, and Schlittler is doing the same thing now.
“The numbers for Schlittler are outstanding, but they don’t tell the full story.”
Schlittler has managed to do all of this despite his staff losing three starters to serious injuries and his lineup losing its captain for months. Through it all, he has remained the constant, the anchor, and the best pitcher in the league.
The argument for him is strong. The Cy Young award is practically his already. The MVP should follow suit.
Source material: “Why Yankees ace Cam Schlittler is in the AL MVP conversation and could join an exclusive club,” Fox News.
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