Cam Schlittler took the loss Thursday against the Red Sox at Fenway. That part is true. But the 25-year-old Yankees righty also walked out of Boston with a piece of franchise history that puts his name next to someone who pitched before the Titanic sank.
Here’s the number that matters: 1.62. That’s Schlittler’s ERA through his first 17 starts of the 2026 season. According to stat guru James Langs, that’s the second-lowest ERA by a Yankees pitcher in his first 17 starts since earned runs became official in 1913. The only guy ahead of him? Ray Caldwell, who posted a 1.60 in 1914. So yeah, we’re talking 112 years.
The loss wasn’t really his fault
Schlittler went five innings, gave up four runs and none of them were earned. The Yankees defense basically handed Boston those runs with four errors on the night. He walked two and struck out nine on 92 pitches. It’s tough to blame a guy for a loss when his team plays that sloppy behind him.
His WHIP sits at 0.92. He’s struck out 118 batters. He’s 8-4. Those are ace numbers for a guy who didn’t even make the Opening Day rotation a year ago.
This is not a fluke
Schlittler debuted in 2025 with a 2.96 ERA over 14 starts. That was solid. But what he’s doing now is a different level. The biggest change? His control. He walked batters at a 10.2 percent clip last season. That number has dropped to under five percent this year. He’s locating better, throwing more strikes and making hitters earn their way on base.
The Yankees fell to 48-32 with the loss. They’ll try to even the series Friday with Will Warren on the mound. But the story here isn’t just one bad game in Boston. It’s that a 25-year-old pitcher no one was talking about two years ago is putting together one of the best starts to a season in Yankees history. And he’s doing it without the fanfare that usually follows a guy in pinstripes.
Ray Caldwell pitched 112 years ago. Schlittler is breathing down his neck. That’s not nothing.
Leave a Comment