BRONX, NY — The Yankees did not win the 2026 season Subway Series, but they did finish their final meeting with the Mets Sunday afternoon by taking the last game of the series in the Bronx.
With rain pushing first pitch back to 1:56pm ET before an announced crowd of 45,508, Cam Schlittler pitched six scoreless innings while Ben Rice and Austin Wells powered the Bombers offense to a 2-0 victory at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees won two of three during the weekend series and finished their six-game homestand at 5-1. The Mets took two of three earlier in the season at Citi Field, leaving the clubs split at 3-3 in their six meetings this year.
The 25-year-old right-hander Schlittler (6.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 8 Ks) was once again the difference maker for the Yankees, improving to 14-6 and lowering his ERA to 1.95. His latest performance strengthened a season-long case for the American League Cy Young Award—and raised a legitimate question about his place in the AL MVP race.
“I think valuable is a good word,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He might be the MVP too. He’s been awesome. Just an awesome season and hopefully he has a lot left in the tank for, you know, what we hope is another month and a half or so.”
Cam Schlittler’s 1.95 ERA is tied with Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski for first in the majors among qualified starting pitchers—only four qualified Yankees pitchers have ever finished with a lower ERA since 1913 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Schlittler has allowed one run or fewer in a major league-best and franchise-record 21 starts. He has done it in seven consecutive outings, tying the longest such streak in Yankees history. During that time, Schlittler’s gone 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 45 innings.
His 228 strikeouts rank seventh in a single season in Yankees franchise history while his 1.95 ERA through 31 starts also places him alongside some of the greatest pitching seasons the organization has seen, including Ron Guidry’s 1.74 ERA in 1978.
With Aaron Judge sidelined for more than three months, Schlittler became the constant piece holding the Yankees playoff dreams together. Removing his production from the rotation, and it is difficult to picture New York entering the final weeks of the season with realistic postseason hopes.
“He expects a lot when he goes out there on his day,” Boone said as the Yankees trail the Rays by four games for the AL East division crown. “You want to be here seeing him on the day he goes to the mound.”
There was a brief scare in the sixth inning when Bo Bichette’s 111.5-MPH line drive struck Schlittler near the back of his right leg. Catcher Austin Wells completed the play and Schlittler, who walked off under his power, expects to make his next start.
“It’ll be a fun couple days trying to get that recovered,” he said, “but I think we’re in a good spot.”
Rice gave the Yankees an immediate lead with his 38th homer on the season which would have only cleared the fence in six major league parks—Yankee Stadium, Sutter Health Park (ATH), Daikin Park (HOU), Petco Park (SD), T-Mobile Park (SEA), and Oracle Park (SF).
Helping the Yankees secure a 2-0 win over the Mets Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Ben Rice recorded his 38th home run of the season, which ties him for second-most in the American League with Astros Yordan Álvarez – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Wells ended an 0-for-20 skid with his 11th homer in the third and that was all Schlittler needed for a Yankees win as Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar completed the 14th shutout for the pinstripe this season. With Bednar earning his 34th save on the year, he now has the most by a Yankees closer since Aroldis Chapman recorded 37 in 2019.
Brian Cashman’s deadline work has also helped stabilize the lineup. Luis García Jr., acquired from Washington, entered Sunday batting .289 with an .871 OPS and has developed a strong argument as the most impactful bat moved at the deadline.
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