Cam Schlittler Throws Fastballs 90% of the Time and MLB Has NO CLUE What to Do

Holy smokes, Seattle! You hear about this? The Cy Young race is already bonkers, and we're not even halfway through May! The guys we thought were running the show, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, they're not even on top anymore. Skubal is sidelined after surgery, and while Skenes is healthy, he’s not the unstoppable force he was. So, who's stepped up to grab the early lead? Get ready, because two new faces are absolutely dominating, and one of them is doing it in a way nobody expected!

The AL Has a New Boss, and He's Breaking All the Rules

Alright, AL fans, if you thought you had a handle on things, think again. The American League has a clear favorite for the Cy Young, and his name is Cam Schlittler from the Yankees. This dude got 31 first-place votes from 36 MLB.com experts. Thirty-one! He’s out here in his first full Major League season absolutely carving up lineups with an MLB-best 1.50 ERA through 11 starts. Want to know the kicker? His approach is wild: he throws fastballs 90.8% of the time! Seriously. A high-octane three-fastball mix, and hitters just cannot time it up. Schlittler isn't just leading in a few spots either; he’s at the top of nearly every major category in the AL. It’s early, but this guy is making a serious statement, and the rest of the league looks lost trying to figure him out.

The NL is a Three-Ring Circus, and a Philly Lefty is the Headliner

Over in the National League, it's a much tighter race, but Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies is making a huge push. After finishing second to Skenes in last year's voting, Sánchez is now the early frontrunner with 17 first-place votes. This lanky lefty is on a ridiculous 37 2/3 scoreless innings streak heading into his next start against the Padres. He's got a real shot at breaking Grover Alexander’s 41-inning mark, which has stood since 1893! With a remarkably simple three-pitch arsenal, Sánchez boasts the lowest ERA in the NL at 1.62. Plus, he's thrown the most innings in baseball with 72 1/3 and has the most WAR at 2.8. He is just flat out getting it done.

But the NL isn't just Sánchez. Paul Skenes, last year's darling, has hit some bumps, allowing nine runs over his last two starts, bumping his ERA to 3.00. We’re used to seeing a '2' or even a '1' in front of that for him! Still, hitters are only batting .183 against him, and his strikeout-minus-walk rate is tied for third best in the league. And then there's Jacob Misiorowski, who might be the hardest-throwing starter ever, hitting triple digits 57 times in one start! He's got 100 K's in 64 innings and opponents are hitting a minuscule .152 against him. Oh, and Shohei Ohtani? He just lowered his ERA to 0.73, the sixth-lowest through eight starts in the Live Ball Era. Chris Sale, at 37, is also tied for the MLB lead with seven wins. The NL is absolutely stacked with pitching talent, making every start must-watch baseball.

Green and Blue Keep Grinding!

While the rest of MLB is watching these pitchers go absolutely wild, our boys in green and blue are just grinding. The Mariners just wrapped up a solid 4-1 win over the Athletics. It’s early, and our bats are always ready to explode with guys like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez leading the charge. We might not have a Cy Young frontrunner in the Emerald City right now, but you know our pitching staff, led by our own studs, is working hard. Let's keep that energy rolling, Seattle! You gotta love this team!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.