AL Cy Young Award Race Intensifies with Strong Performances from Schlittler and Cease
The competition for this year’s AL Cy Young Award is becoming increasingly fierce, showing no signs of letting up on Friday night.
New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler posted an impressive eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings during a close 1-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox. Meanwhile, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease also recorded eight strikeouts in an 8-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.
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At just 25 years old, Schlittler has surpassed the 200-strikeout milestone this season, joining Cease in this elite category for August. On the other hand, Cease achieved a remarkable feat of his own, maintaining a streak of at least seven strikeouts for the 19th consecutive start. The last player to achieve a similar streak in a single season was Hall of Famer Randy Johnson back in 2001, according to MLB.com.
In 2001, Johnson won one of his five Cy Young Awards while also taking home the World Series MVP. His remarkable streak of games with seven or more strikeouts extended to 20 that year.
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Cease can match Johnson’s record in his next outing as he competes with the 66-70 Blue Jays, who are fighting for a wild-card position. On Friday, he pitched six innings, allowing just one run from the Mariners.
Both Schlittler and Cease were selected for this year’s All-Star Game, with Cease earning the starting position after an impressive 12-strikeout game at the beginning of the season.
Prior to the All-Star Game, Cease nearly threw his second career no-hitter, with his first occurring while he was with the San Diego Padres in 2024. Later, he completed a dominant one-hit shutout in July.
Currently, Schlittler leads in the ERA standings and is viewed as the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award. However, Cease closely follows Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski for the highest strikeout total in Major League Baseball this season.
As the season unfolds, both pitchers appear poised to continue their exceptional performances.
The race for this year’s AL Cy Young Award is heating up, and there was no cease fire on Friday night.
While New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler delivered eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball during a series-opening 1-0 win over the rival Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays righty Dylan Cease matched with eight Ks of his own.
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Schlittler, 25, eclipsed the 200-punchout barrier — joining Cease in that rare August air — however, Cease made some swing-and-miss history amid an 8-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
For the 19th consecutive start, the 30-year-old Cease piled up at least seven strikeouts. The last player to string together that many outings like that in a single season was Baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2001, according to MLB.com.
Johnson won one of his five Cy Young Awards — and his four straight with the Arizona Diamondbacks — that season. The towering lefty also took home World Series MVP that year. His streak of games with seven-plus strikeouts ran to 20 games.
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Cease can tie Johnson during his next start for a 66-70 Blue Jays squad that’s scrapping for positioning in the wild-card hunt.
He went six innings and gave up the Mariners’ lone run on Friday.
Both Schlittler and Cease made this year’s All-Star Game. Cease, who began his stay with the Blue Jays with an auspicious 12 K-spectacle back in March, got the starting nod for the Midsummer Classic.
Before that exhibition in July, Cease teased his second career no-hitter (his first came with the San Diego Padres in 2024). Later that month, he spun a complete game, one-hit shutout.
Schlittler has the edge in the ERA department at the moment and is the frontrunner for the Cy Young Award in the AL, but Cease trails only Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski for the major-league lead in strikeouts this season.
And his Ks don’t seem to be slowing their roll anytime soon.
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