Cam Schlittler Embraces Ace Role as Yankees Open Playoffs Against Red Sox

Cam Schlittler is set to pitch the opener of the Yankees' playoff series against the Boston Red Sox, a stark contrast to his role in the previous year's wild-card matchup against the same rival. Last season, Schlittler, with only 14 major league starts to his name, was called upon to save the Yankees' season in Game 3. He responded with eight shutout innings, striking out 12 and walking none, to eliminate the Red Sox.

Now, after establishing himself as one of baseball's top pitchers and a likely Cy Young Award winner, the 25-year-old right-hander has earned the confidence of manager Aaron Boone and the pitching staff to start Game 1 of the current series.

"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.

Schlittler, a native of Walpole, Massachusetts, has a notable history with the Red Sox franchise and its fanbase. He previously expressed disappointment with personal attacks directed at him and his family by some Red Sox fans during last year's postseason.

"I wouldn’t say I’m always on my phone looking for that stuff," Schlittler said of social media. "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."

This past regular season, Schlittler led the American League with a 1.95 ERA, posting 239 strikeouts over 33 starts. While he is being recognized for his success, Schlittler remains focused on the future and defining his legacy through consistent performance.

Despite the presence of high-priced veteran pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón in the Yankees' rotation, Schlittler has emerged as a standout. He defines an ace as someone with longevity and consistent success over multiple seasons.

"I think I’ve shown consistency over a year and a half, but I still think we’ve got a long way to go," Schlittler said. "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, however, views Schlittler as having already reached that status.

"He’s turned into an ace in the sport," Boone 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."