Aaron Boone called Cam Schlittler “the best pitcher in the league,” and given the right-hander’s performance over his first full season in the majors, it would be hard to argue with the manager.
Schlittler padded his résumé, which has made him the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, with another gem in a 5-3 win against Colorado on Tuesday.
“That’s a great compliment,’’ Schlittler said when told of Boone’s praise.
And though Schlittler said the trophy is not at the top of his mind with the Yankees still trying to clinch a playoff spot, as well as catch Tampa Bay atop the AL East, he acknowledged he’s talked with Chad Bohling, the team’s director of organizational performance, about “chasing” the award.
“But I try to push that to the side and I don’t worry about it on a daily basis,’’ Schlittler said. “If I go out there every five days and compete, there’s no reason I don’t have an opportunity to win it.”
His main competitor is Toronto’s Dylan Cease, but if Schlittler puts up more outings like this one, he should be in good shape. After walking 11 batters over 17 innings over three straight starts, Schlittler has delivered consecutive outings in which he hasn’t issued any — while fanning 19.
He leads the league, and extended his franchise record, with 20 starts this season of giving up one run or fewer, and his ERA dropped to 2.01.
Schlittler’s only mistake Tuesday came in the third, when Adael Amador led off the inning with a homer to right-center that tied the game at 1-1.
It was one of just three hits Colorado had against Schlittler, as the Yankees improved to 19-11 in his starts this year.
Only two pitchers in the majors have thrown more than Schlittler’s 178 ²/₃ and even when he’s had issues with command, he’s nearly always been effective.
That consistency has helped the Yankees not only withstand the extended absence of Aaron Judge to a fractured rib, but injuries to several key members of the rotation.
“When you have that going all year at the top of the rotation, that’s massive,’’ Boone said of Schlittler.
The 25-year-old seemed most pleased with the lack of walks, noting he’d “rather they put it in play and let them beat me than beat myself.”
And he seems to have overcome the one shortfall that bothered him earlier in the season, as Schlittler has given up just three runs in 25 ²/₃ innings in his past four outings at Yankee Stadium. Prior to that stretch, he was 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA in his first 10 starts in The Bronx.
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All of it adds up to what could turn out to be a historic season.
“Ask me in three weeks and I can give you my honest opinion,’’ Schlittler said of his season. “I’m focused on the last few weeks [of the regular season]. It’s been good so far, but a lot of things can happen.”
