Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice share Player of the Game honors for Yankees’ playoff opener

Flash forward a year, and Schlittler has very much looked like the pitcher he was that day in 2025, except for the entire season. With a season ERA under 2.00 and a bunch of other excellent numbers, he's the current favorite for the AL Cy Young Award. While starting a rookie in a do-or-die game last season was something of a risk, this year he was the no-doubt choice to take the mound in Game 1 as the Yankees and Red Sox met in the Wild Card Series again.

While just on raw numbers, Schlittler wasn't as good as he was last year, his start in Game 1 against the Red Sox looked pretty similar to 2025.

In 6.1 innings on Tuesday night, Schlittler kept the Red Sox off the board, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out 10. Both the hits he allowed were just singles and none of any of the runners even got into scoring position while he was in the game. You always feel somewhat on edge during close playoff baseball games, but there wasn't much actual reason to be while Schlittler was in the game. Other than maybe going eight innings like he did last year, you couldn't really ask for much more from him.