New York Yankees star pitcher Cam Schlittler kept the New York Mets off the scoreboard for six innings Sunday, and the team rode two solo homers to a 2-0 win that locked up the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium.
Manager Aaron Boone did not mince words afterward about the 25-year-old right-hander who has become the staff’s clear ace.
“Valuable is the right word. He might be the MVP, too,” Boone said.
Schlittler allowed one hit, walked two and struck out eight. He threw 94 pitches, 60 of them strikes, and did not surrender a hit until Brett Baty doubled off the right-field wall with two outs in the fifth.
The outing ended when Bo Bichette smashed an 111.5 mph comebacker off the back of Schlittler’s right leg. The ball caromed to catcher Austin Wells, who threw to first to complete the out. Schlittler hopped once, then walked down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse.
Boone said the ball struck the hamstring and that Schlittler took it “pretty good.” The manager expects him to be all right.
Ben Rice gave the Yankees all the offense they would need in the first inning, leading off with his 38th home run of the season and the third leadoff shot of his career. Wells added another solo homer in the third, ending an 0-for-20 slump by driving a ball into the right-field second deck.
Mets starter Christian Scott lasted six innings and allowed those two runs on three hits. He struck out seven, including Aaron Judge three times, and walked two. Judge finished 0-for-3 and is 3-for-17 since returning from a broken rib.
Brent Headrick retired the side in order in the seventh. Paul Blackburn escaped the eighth. David Bednar stranded a runner in the ninth for his 34th save in 37 chances.
The Yankees took the three-game set after winning 6-4 on Friday and dropping a 12-2 decision Saturday. New York improved to 86-63 and has won 18 of its last 26 games. The club’s magic number to clinch a postseason berth is one.
Schlittler improved to 14-6. His ERA dropped to 1.95, tying him with Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski for the major league lead. He has 228 strikeouts and 44 walks in 184 2/3 innings, with a 0.90 WHIP.
In 21 of his 31 starts he has allowed one run or fewer.
Only Dean Chance, at 25 or younger, had more such starts in a season over the last 110 years, according to Major League Baseball. Chance had 22 for the Angels in 1964.
Boone had already been stacking praise on Schlittler before Sunday. After a recent start against Colorado, the manager called him the best pitcher in the league. Ahead of the Mets series he said there is “freedom and fun” in watching Schlittler take the mound because he can dominate big-league hitters.
The Mets fell to 69-80 and were shut out for the 14th time this season. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto went a combined 0-for-7 with four strikeouts.
New York opens a three-game series Monday night against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Schlittler’s combination of strikeouts, run prevention and innings has also put him in the American League MVP conversation, a rare path for a starting pitcher. He leads the league in ERA and ranks among the leaders in wins above replacement.
For a Yankees team still chasing a division title and a deep October run, the message from the manager was plain. The young right-hander is not just the staff’s most valuable arm. Boone is willing to say he might be the most valuable player, period.
