Yankees' Schlittler Delivers Dominant Performance

In a thrilling Game 3 of the American League Wild Card series, the New York Yankees vanquished their longtime rivals, the Boston Red Sox, thanks to the remarkable pitching performance by Cam Schlittler. The game, which took place on Thursday, saw Schlittler shine bright on the mound, much to the admiration of baseball legend David Ortiz.

Ortiz, who is synonymous with the Red Sox, acknowledged Schlittler's outstanding skills, expressing his belief in the 24-year-old right-hander during an interview with TMZ Sports. "I could tell the Yankees had an 'ace' on their staff the first time I saw him. He's got it, bro," Ortiz praised. Indeed, Schlittler's performance was nothing short of historic—he struck out an impressive 12 batters without issuing a walk and limited the Red Sox to just four singles over eight dominant innings.

The Yankees handed Schlittler the ball in a win-or-go-home scenario, and he certainly rose to the occasion. Of the 107 pitches he threw, 64 clocked in at a blazing speed of 98.0 mph or more. This rapid ascension is a stark contrast to just two years earlier when his fastball registered an average of only 90.0 mph while pitching in A-ball.

Schlittler's impressive growth, coupled with the Yankees' development efforts, has positioned him as a key player for a postseason run. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who faced uncertainty regarding his No. 3 starter at the onset of the playoffs, now finds himself with a trio of pitchers he can confidently rely on.

As the AL playoffs progress, the Yankees' competitors will have to be wary of Schlittler's potential. Despite currently lacking a secondary pitch—he relied on his fastball during 55% of his pitches in the regular season—the initial results from Schlittler's performances signal a promising future as he continues to refine his craft. If he continues to excel and leads the Yankees to another World Series this season, he could very well become a folk hero in the Bronx.