Cam Schlittler Turns Red Sox Criticism into Pitching Fuel

New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler, 25, entered the July 2026 season as a Cy Young-award contender, posting a 2.05 ERA that leads the American League. After a poor start against the Detroit Tigers, he rebounded with a one-run, eight-inning outing versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The performance followed a routine video session in which Yankees director of organizational performance Chad Bohling showed Schlittler a clip from the “Baseball is Dead” podcast in which host Jared Carrabis warned that “the regression is happening before our very eyes.” Schlittler later described the clip as “definitely pissed me off,” saying the criticism sharpened his focus on the mound.

New York Times

Schlittler, a former Red Sox fan from Walpole, Massachusetts, has repeatedly framed outside attacks as motivation. He recalled personal online harassment after a 12-strikeout, scoreless postseason start against Boston last year and said he now “wants to end Boston’s season.” The pitcher also noted that he overhauled his command during the offseason after being “bothered” by his previous walk rate, resulting in a ranking among the league’s best at limiting free passes.

New York Times

Yankees manager Aaron Boone affirmed that the coaching staff recognizes Schlittler’s embrace of personal challenges. Teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr. added, “People probably get on you because they wish they could have been in your shoes, but they’re not.” The organization’s approach includes routinely showing players video clips—sometimes critical—to gauge reactions, a practice illustrated by Bohling’s decision to play the Carrabis excerpt before Schlittler’s start.

New York Times

Jared Carrabis, cohost of “Baseball is Dead,” questioned the authenticity of Schlittler’s hostility toward Boston, stating, “I find you annoying because you’re like, ‘I’m from Boston,’” and noting that Schlittler actually hails from Walpole, not the city itself. Carrabis further described Schlittler’s feud as “inauthentic,” suggesting the pitcher’s anger stems from feeling rejected by his hometown fanbase.

New York Times

• “It definitely pissed me off,” — Cam Schlittler

New York Times

• “the regression is happening before our very eyes” — Jared Carrabis

New York Times

• “People probably get on you because they wish they could have been in your shoes, but they’re not,” — Jazz Chisholm Jr.

New York Times

• “I find you annoying because you’re like, ‘I’m from Boston,” — Jared Carrabis

New York Times

• “If I want to say something, I can, because I’ve backed it up.” — Cam Schlittler

New York Times