Yankees fans cannot take Cam Schlittler's MVP case for granted after statement vs. Mets

The New York Yankees' final Subway Series chapter with the Mets this year started with two games that fell in line with the way this series has developed in recent years. Bombast, fireworks, roller coasters, and a neat split down the middle - before Yankee fans had finished trolling Juan Soto (whose calf doesn't seem healed enough for him to be playing?), Mets fans were taking bites out of Gerrit Cole.

But the finale? Good, old-fashioned hardball from Cam Schlittler and a tidy performance from the bullpen that reminded fans just how good and efficient baseball can be. This was the Yankees at their most crisp. This, despite an offensive void, was never in doubt.

What can you say about Schlittler that hasn't already been whined on Section 10? The only knock on his resumé this season is that he's somehow allergic to comebackers, and his outing on Sunday ended at 94 pitches after he'd taken another one off the body, mid-spin. He allowed just one hit, walking two and whiffing eight against a Mets lineup that's hit its stride in recent weeks (and which Yankees fans have seen firsthand have an excellent series of pressure their starters and top relievers).

Schlittler's ERA is suddenly under 2.00 at 1.95 with two starts left in the regular season. Depending on where the Yankees sit in the standings, his manager may have a chance to ease off the throttle; he's past 184 2/3 innings after throwing 164 last year between the minors, bigs, and postseason. That's not egregious, but it might merit a breather.

Of course, when you're in a rhythm like this, why pause? Why change a thing? Especially with an ... MVP award at stake, in addition to the Cy Young? It sounds insane. It's not insane. And it's to the point that Aaron Boone had to wink and nod at the possibility in Sunday's postgame, running parallel with Yordan Álvarez taking a single at-bat in a three-game Astros slop sweep at the Trop while battling ankle soreness.

Cam Schlittler's MVP case building steam as Yankees fans remain amazed

Álvarez has had a remarkable season, but not an otherworldly one. He's posted 5.8 bWAR, mostly DHing and competing for the Triple Crown, but falling shorter by the day. He hit .287 with two homers and an .873 OPS in August - good, not great - and has a .714 OPS while hobbled in the month of September. He's two back of Junior Caminero of the Rays now in home runs, four back of Pete Alonso in RBI, and leads Chandler Simpson .310 to .305 in batting average (days off help).

If he wins the Triple Crown, then he's your MVP. But if he falls short in multiple categories, do we have to reward a DH losing steam? Or can we look at Schlittler's 6.6 bWAR (entering Sunday, that's changed!), ERA below 2.00, and status as the glue holding together the Yankees' league-leading rotation without Gerrit Cole (as planned) and Max Fried (unplanned) for long stretches?

Schlittler being this dominant was not part of the Opening Day plan. Sunday was his 23rd start of the season with either one or zero earned runs allowed. Yankee fans, do not shrug at this dominance. Do not miss a minute of Schlittler - and do not miss an opportunity to defend and promote him. This season has been cemented as special. The only question remaining is how special? At this moment, he should be the favorite for both AL Cy Young and MVP. No matter how you felt about him entering the season, he's soared higher than that.

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