Cam Schlittler names best player in MLB after Yankees sweep Red Sox

The New York Yankees have begun their 2026 MLB postseason with exceptional speed, swiftly eliminating their fierce rival Boston Red Sox in a best-of-three Wild Card series. The Yankees dominated the series, outscoring the Red Sox 18-2 in two games, and will now face their division rival Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-five American League Division Series (ALDS) starting on Saturday in Tampa Bay.

The Yankees will continue the series for two more games in Tampa Bay before returning to the Bronx for a potential Game 4 and 5 next Wednesday.

Cam Schlittler, the Yankees' ace right-hander, has been instrumental in their success thus far. In Game 1 against Boston, Schlittler pitched 6 ⅓ scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters. Following the series conclusion, Schlittler spoke about the currently injured outfielder Aaron Judge. Schlittler expressed his belief that Judge is the best player in baseball and stated that the Yankees will only improve following Judge's return.

However, Judge has been struggling due to a moderate calf strain he suffered on September 16, missing a significant portion of the season. Judge has only appeared in 66 games this season, with a .241/.360/.511 OPS (playing average) and 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. The 17-day gap since his injury has raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming ALDS.

As for the Yankees' lineup for Game 1 of the ALDS, they will rely on either right-hander Gerrit Cole or lefty Carlos Rodón on the mound. The final decision will be made in the coming days. Schlittler will have a day of regular rest before pitching Game 2 on Monday, and left-hander Max Fried will start Game 3 in the Bronx. Beyond these games, the outcomes for Game 4 and 5 have not been established.

Despite their competitive history over the years, the Yankees and Red Sox have never met in the postseason following a regular 162-game season, making this matchup a historic first for both clubs.