Rookie Schlittler strikes out 12 over 8 scoreless innings as Yankees defeat Red Sox to advance to the Division Series

In the AL Wild Card elimination game, the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox. The 24-year-old Yankees rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler stepped up, pitching 8 innings with an impressive 12 strikeouts, leading his team to a 4-0 shutout victory and a spot in the AL Division Series. Schlittler set a new team record in his postseason debut by recording the most strikeouts in a single playoff debut in Yankees history.

Schlittler, a seventh-round draft pick in 2022, made his Major League debut in July this season due to a shortage in the Yankees’ starting rotation and quickly secured his place as a starter. Despite never having faced the Red Sox in his career, he took on the crucial role in this do-or-die Wild Card game and delivered a stunning performance.

The Red Sox were completely unable to handle Schlittler’s pitching, striking out 12 times throughout the game. In the top of the 5th inning, the Red Sox managed to get runners in scoring position with two hits, posing their biggest threat of the game, but Schlittler struck out three batters in a row, including Jarren Duran, preserving the shutout.

Schlittler also set a rare record, becoming the first pitcher in Major League postseason history to throw 8 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks. Even more remarkable, his velocity remained at peak levels late into the game—his 100th pitch still clocked at 99 mph (about 159 km/h), and his fastest pitch reached 100.8 mph (approximately 162 km/h), leaving Red Sox hitters completely off balance.

Analyzing his pitch mix, Schlittler’s four-seam fastball was his primary weapon, used over 50% of the time against hitters and up to 58% against left-handed batters. His off-speed pitches mainly consisted of a cutter and curveball, supplemented by occasional sinkers and sliders. According to MLB’s advanced data site Statcast, Schlittler’s four-seam fastball earned an elite rating of 89, while his off-speed pitches scored only 20, well below average.

With Schlittler’s dominant pitching and a potent 4-run rally in the bottom of the 4th inning, the Yankees shut out their rivals 4-0 to secure their place in the AL Division Series. Next up, they will face the Toronto Blue Jays, with the winner advancing to the AL Championship Series.