The New York Yankees have a problem most teams would envy: two legitimate Cy Young contenders sharing the same rotation. And while the question of who takes home the hardware might seem like a luxury debate, it says everything about the state of Yankees pitching in 2026.
On one side, you have Cam Schlittler, arguably the best story in baseball over the past year. The former mid-rotation college starter with modest fastball velocity has transformed into an absolute force of nature—a fire-breathing pitcher who mows down hitters with pure gas every fifth day. It's still a bit shocking to say, given he was a relative unknown just a year ago, but Schlittler is now on the short list of AL Cy Young contenders. By most measures, he's been the best pitcher in baseball this season, leading the league in both fWAR and RA-9 WAR, and topping the majors in both FIP and ERA. There's no one who seems more likely on any given night to fire seven shutout innings.
On the other side stands Max Fried, a steady left-handed ace who has quietly built a reputation as one of the best hurlers in the sport. Fried hasn't experienced the same meteoric rise as Schlittler, but he's been consistently excellent. While his ERA sits 12th in the American League, he ranks sixth in FIP and actually leads the Junior Circuit in expected ERA per Statcast—even outstripping Schlittler himself.
Betting markets currently peg Schlittler as a narrow favorite, but the two are neck-and-neck at the top. If you base your choice purely on 2026 performance, there's no comparison—Schlittler's resume is simply more impressive. But where Fried makes his case is in reliability. There are few better bets to reach the 200-inning threshold than Fried, who FanGraphs projects to finish the year with 202 frames. Schlittler may have more upside, but Fried offers the kind of consistency that Cy Young voters historically reward.
So, which Yankee pitcher do you think is more likely to bring home the Cy Young? It's a debate that says everything about the depth and talent of this Yankees staff—and one that should have fans feeling very good about their team's chances down the stretch.