4 Things Yankees: Winner Takes All Tonight

CAM SCHLITTLER
Born in Walpole, MA — just 26 miles outside of Boston — Cam Schlittler stayed local at Northeastern University, pitching less than a mile from Fenway Park. Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 7^th round of the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft, he has made a meteoric rise from Boston Red Sox fan, to pitching prospect, to the Yankees starter in tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3 at Yankee Stadium (8p, ESPN).

Headed into spring training, the Yankees starting rotation depth chart looked like this (# of actual starts):

1. Gerrit Cole (0 starts) (IL)
2. Max Fried (32 starts)
3. Carlos Rodon (33 starts)
4. Luis Gil (11 starts)
5. Clarke Schmidt (14 starts) (IL)
6. Marcus Stroman (9 starts) (released)
7. Will Warren (33 starts)
8. Carlos Carrasco (6 starts) (released)

Schlittler’s performance this spring did not lead anyone outside of the organization to think he had a chance to start the biggest game of the season. He logged 16.1 Grapefruit League innings with a 4.41 ERA, allowing 15 hits, 10 walks, and striking out 13.

After being sent down, he opened the season with 10 starts in Double A, then made 5 more in Triple A before making his MLB debut on July 9 against the Seattle Mariners. Since then, 14 starts, 73 innings, 2.96 ERA, 58 hits, 31 walks against 84 strikeouts.

He’s already proven that his allegiance is now to the pinstripes — but win tonight, and Schlittler cements his legacy before his career truly begins.

HISTORY OF YANKS/BOSOX ELIMINATION GAMES
Tonight’s “winner takes all” game 3 will conclude the 7^th all-time postseason matchup between these two bitter rivals.

1978
In 1978, the Yankees concluded their famous 14 game comeback to win the AL East by beating the Red Sox 5-4 fueled by light-hitting SS Bucky Dent’s dramatic 7^th inning home run. Yankee legends Ron Guidry and Rich Gossage got the win and save respectively.

1999
In 1999, the two teams met for the first time in the AL Championship Series. The Yankees won games 1, 2 and 4, setting up a relaxing 6-1 series clinching win in game 5.

2003
In 2003, the Yankees were unable to close out the Red Sox in game 6, forcing the rivalry’s first Game 7 which turned out to be an 11-inning classic. Hall of Fame starter Mike Mussina, and Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, each pitched 3 shutout innings. Current Yankees manager Aaron Boone then etched his name next to Bucky Dent by hitting a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11^th to give the Yankees a 6-5 victory.

2004
In 2004, the “Curse of the Bambino” ended when the Yankees failed to close out the Red Sox in the ALCS rematch. Game 4 was lost 6-4 in 12 innings after Rivera blew a rare save in the 9^th. For context, Rivera saved 42 of 46 postseason chances over his legendary career. Game 5 was lost 5-4 in 14 innings and game 6 was dropped 4-2.

That set up another Game 7, only this time the Red Sox jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, completing their historic comeback. They remain the only baseball team in history to come back from an 0-3 hole in a Best of Seven playoff series. The Red Sox went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to capture their first World Series championship since 1918. In the last 21 years the Red Sox have won 4 rings (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018) to the Yankees one (2009).

2018
In 2018, the two teams met in the ALDS. The Red Sox won games 1, 2 and 4 to close out the Yankees 3 games to 1.

2021
In 2021, they met in a single elimination Wild Card game with the Red Sox winning (again) 6-2.

WILD CARD BEST OF THREE
To quote the late singer Meatloaf, and renowned Yankees fan, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”. But while it is better than playing a single-elimination game like MLB did from 2012-2019, and 2021, it is still too early to determine if the new format is a keeper.

In each of the first three years of the new format (2022-24), no team has come back from losing Game 1 to win a series. That could change today with three Game 3s on the schedule:

3p Detroit Tigers (1-1) at Cleveland Guardians (1-1)
5p San Diego Padres (1-1) at Chicago Cubs (1-1)
8p Boston Red Sox (1-1) at New York Yankees (1-1)

MASON MILLER
8 up, 8 down, 8 strikeouts. And one 104.5 mph pitch.

From the time Mason Miller’s name first showed up in trade rumors last summer, Yankees fans were salivating over the thought of acquiring the now 27-year-old from his former team the Oakland Athletics. The Pittsburgh native profiles as a modern-day Goose Gossage, the Hall of Fame reliever who starred for the Yankees from 1978 through 1983.

On July 31, the San Diego Padres rescued Miller from his Sacremento A’s exile and dropped him directly into a pennant race. In 22 games with San Diego, he’s posted a 0.77 ERA while allowing just 7 hits in 23.1 innings.

Let’s keep in mind that the Padres gave up four prospects to acquire Miller (and former Yankees’ starter JP Sears), including Leo De Vries — who was ranked #3 overall by MLB Pipeline.

At the time, Yankees reportedly refused to include SS George Lombard Jr and CF Spencer Jones in a package for Miller. Supposedly, the Yankees would only consider trading those two kids in a package for Pittsburgh Pirates phenom (and Livvy Dunne’s boyfriend) Paul Skenes.

At the time, I steadfastly agreed with the Yankees’ decision to hold on to their top two position player prospects. While there’s no guarantee that either player will succeed in the majors, they both have above-average athleticism, play premium positions, and have already had flashes of stardom in the minor leagues.

Plus, while Miller has a remarkable arm, he has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain in 2022, and a UCL sprain in 2023. Therefore, I still agree with the decision, though I’ll admit it’s harder after watching Miller dominate these last two days.

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