Cam Schlittler delivered the finest start of his major league career, striking out 13 batters over six innings as the New York Yankees shut out the Cincinnati Reds 5-0. The 6-foot-6 right-hander used three varieties of high-velocity fastballs to dominate the Reds, matching his previous career-high strikeout total from last year's AL Wild Card Series.

Josh Hart, teammate from the NBA championship Knicks, took to social media to declare Schlittler the obvious Cy Young winner after witnessing the performance firsthand. The Yankees' seventh-round draft pick threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of 23 hitters and notched his fifth victory, improving to 8-3 with a 1.71 ERA through 16 starts. Opponents are now hitting just .194 against him.

At 25, Schlittler became the youngest Yankees pitcher with 13 strikeouts since Al Downing in 1964, also marking the first time he accomplished the feat without issuing a walk. Manager Aaron Boone declared him potentially the best pitcher in the American League, noting his ability to generate weak contact and bury offerings in the zone. With Gerrit Cole returning from injury and Max Fried sidelined, Schlittler has claimed the staff ace role through consistent dominance.