Why Yankees ace Cam Schlittler is in the AL MVP conversation and could join an exclusive club

The New York Yankees ace has been nothing short of dominant this season.The swashbuckling 25-year-old is all but a lock to win the American League Cy Young Award.But why stop there? He should win the American League MVP too.

Schlittler should become just the 12th player in MLB history to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same season.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday, Sept.4, 2026, in San Diego, Calif.

(Emma Steinberg/MLB Photos via Getty Images)Heading into his final start of the year against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, Schlittler leads all American League pitchers in ERA (1.94) and is tied for first in WHIP with Drew Rasmussen (0.91).He has been durable, making all his starts, and is second in the AL in innings pitched (190 2/3).With a devastating combination of cutters, sinkers and fastballs, the young right-hander has racked up 234 strikeouts, third in the AL behind Cleveland Guardians ace Gavin Williams (244) and likely Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease (239).Schlittler has set a Yankees franchise record by allowing one or no runs in 21 starts this year.

He became just the third pitcher age 25 or younger in the live-ball era, which began in 1920, to achieve the feat, joining Dean Chance (1964) and Blake Snell (2018).Schlittler also leads the AL in bWAR with 7.0, ahead of other MVP contenders such as Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (6.6), Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr.(6.5) and Rays phenom Junior Caminero (5.6).The numbers for Schlittler are outstanding, but they don’t tell the full story.Schlittler has been the pillar of the Yankees' pitching staff, which leads all of baseball with a 3.21 team ERA.While the pitching staff has been fantastic, it h...