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.
“I thought [the Yankees] were in trouble when they lost the first game of that series,’’ an American League scout said Monday. “I didn’t know yet that Cam Schlittler was Cam Schlittler.”
Now, it’s no secret.
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.
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.
“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.
In that decisive Game 3 against Boston, Schlittler tossed eight shutout innings — striking out 12 and walking none — to knock off the Red 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.
And the Walpole, Mass., native will be facing his hometown Red Sox, a franchise — and fanbase — he’s developed a long history with.
He hasn’t shied away from all aspects of the rivalry — both good and bad — in this age of social 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.”
This time around, Schlittler said he knows what to expect.
“I wouldn’t say I’m always on my phone looking for that stuff,’’ Schlittler said. “At the same time, I don’t really live under a rock. I’ve found ways to use that to my advantage. I think I’m good at keeping receipts. At the end of the day, I’m locked into going in there [Tuesday] and doing my 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.
While that won’t be forgotten if Tuesday night doesn’t go Schlittler’s way, those accomplishments will certainly look less impressive.
And he knows that what happens in these playoffs will go a long way in defining his legacy.
Still, in a rotation that includes high-priced free agents like Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, Schlittler has clearly stood apart.
But he’s not ready to put himself in their category — yet.
“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. “I think I’ve shown consistency over a year and a half, but I still think we’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of guys in this rotation that have a lot of experience and have proven to be an ace. I have confidence in myself to kind of treat myself like an ace, but I wouldn’t really define that yet.’’
Boone is ready to take that leap.
“He’s turned into an ace in the sport,’’ the manager said. “He’s obviously super talented and really skilled, but he’s also really tough and able to focus. And it seems like the bigger the game, the better he seems to be here in his young career.’’
