The Yankees' Other Young Ace In The Making

"The 25-year-old owns an AL-leading 1.35 ERA across nine starts. The Yankees are 7-2 in his outings, and opposing batters are hitting .176 against the righty and his devastating three-fastball mix. With Tarik Skubal on the shelf, Schlittler has emerged as an early frontrunner to start for the AL All-Stars this summer in Philadelphia. Some might tell you he's the Cy Young favorite, too."

"Will Warren, 27 next month, has a 3.42 ERA through nine starts of his own. With 59 strikeouts, he's tied with Schlittler for fourth-most in the American League. His 5-1 record also matches Schlittler's, as does New York's 7-2 record in his starts. Under the hood, the numbers are just as impressive. Warren ranks among the AL's top 10 qualified arms in xERA and FIP, while his xFIP and SIERA put him into the league's top five."

"One thing all of those "ERA estimators" appreciate is the significance of strikeouts, walks, and their relationship to one another. Warren's strikeout rate is up from 24.1% in 2025, his first full season, to 29.8% in 2026. His walk rate has dropped by nearly one third, from 9.1% to 6.1%. Accordingly, his 23.7% K-BB% (strikeout rate minus walk rate) is more than 10 percentage points higher than the league average for a starting pitcher."

"K-BB% is a stat that stabilizes relatively quickly. It's also one of the strongest predictors of future run prevention. Warren still needs to prove he can pitch this well over a full season, but his much-improved K-BB% is a powerful indicator that his early success is more than smoke and mirrors. Schlittler is turning heads with a 24.8% K-BB% after 202 batters faced."

Cam Schlittler has an AL-leading 1.35 ERA across nine starts, with the Yankees going 7-2 in his outings. Opponents hit .176 against him, supported by a three-fastball mix. With Tarik Skubal unavailable, Schlittler has emerged as an early candidate for AL All-Star starting pitching. Will Warren has a 3.42 ERA through nine starts, matching Schlittler’s 5-1 record and New York’s 7-2 team record in his starts. Warren’s strikeouts total 59 and his underlying metrics rank among the AL’s best, including top-five marks in xFIP and SIERA. His strikeout rate rose from 24.1% to 29.8%, while his walk rate fell from 9.1% to 6.1%, producing a K-BB% well above league average.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors