Schlittler dominates Reds with 13 strikeouts, earns praise on social media from NBA champ Josh Hart

NEW YORK (AP) — Cam Schlittler was so dominant Friday night that even a member of the NBA champion New York Knicks thinks the tall right-hander is the top pitcher in the American League.

Schlittler had the best regular-season outing of his brief career for the New York Yankees, striking out 13 in six overpowering innings and using three types of high-velocity fastballs in a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

In his 30th major league start, the 6-foot-8 Schlittler eclipsed his previous career high of nine strikeouts. Against the Reds, he dominated in a way similar to the deciding Game 3 of last year's AL Wild Card Series against the rival Boston Red Sox when he struck out 12 in eight innings.

Two nights after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium along with Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart posted on social media about Schlittler, saying: “Schlitty is the Cy Young winner hands down.”

“That’s a good thing to hear,” Schlittler said. “Josh is a great guy. I talked to him after the first playoff game. I’m pumped for him and the city of New York just being able to finish that off, and it’s great to have his support.”

Schlittler (8-3) notched five strikeouts on his four-seam fastball that averaged 97.9 mph. The seventh-round draft pick had four strikeouts apiece on cutters and sinkers while throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of 23 hitters after three straight winless starts.

“From back there, he looks crazy nasty,” New York second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said.

At 25 years, 134 days, Schlittler became the youngest Yankees pitcher with 13 strikeouts since Al Downing (22 years, 359 days) also fanned 13 against the Chicago White Sox on June 21, 1964.

“I think he’s able to go so deep in the game sometimes because they generate such weak contact and he’s just filling up the zone,” Yankees first baseman Ben Rice said. “It is a little surprising. At the same time, if you told me he had 13 Ks in a game, I’d be like, that checks out."

Schlittler also became the youngest Yankees pitcher to strike out 13 without issuing a walk. He threw 66 of 96 pitches for strikes and got his 10th strikeout when Eugenio Suárez swung at a 99.1 mph sinker to end the fourth.

“He kind of came as advertised,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “It’s 90s and it’s a fastball that’s not straight. One’s cutting, one’s sinking, one’s at the top of the zone. It’s pretty impressive.”

Schlittler caught Matt McLain looking at a 100 mph fastball in the fifth and got his final strikeout with a 98 mph fastball against JJ Bleday in the sixth. Schlittler allowed four hits and exited to a standing ovation after stranding two runners in the sixth.

“Tonight I felt like he was on top of his game and had it going and the stuff was electric,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I felt like he was in control and kind of dominating the game a little bit.”

Schlittler has a 1.71 ERA, lowest for a Yankees pitcher through 16 starts in a season since Whitey Ford was at 1.47 in 1964. Opponents are batting .194 against Schlittler, who has ascended to the top of a Yankees rotation that just got Gerrit Cole back from elbow surgery last month and has been missing Max Fried since mid-May.

All of which only enhances Schlittler's case to start next month’s All-Star Game.

“We can all say he’s probably been the best, one of the best pitchers in the sport,” Boone said. “There’s all kinds of things that go into that and that’s a few weeks away. We’ll see. He’s definitely, I think you can make the case he’s been the best pitcher in the American League so far.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Yankees' catcher J.C. Escarra and pitcher Cam Schlittler shake hands during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds , Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player issued with a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, getting sent off during a confrontation late in the first half against Turkey on Friday night.

The infraction came during first-half stoppage time in the Group D match when Almiron and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.

Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be given a red card and ejected under a new rule put in place for this year's World Cup.

“According to the law, if you cover your mouth you’re sent off. Red card,” coach Gustavo Alfaro said. “There’s nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this.”

Paraguay led 1-0 at the time and held on for the win despite playing a man down for the entire second half.

Alfaro said he tried to cheer Almiron up after the game, telling him his absence brought out the “fighting spirit” of the team.

“He apologized to the players for his mistake,” Alfaro said. “He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions. ... It happened and it happened.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game.

Alfaro said the team was well aware of the rule even if it might be too harsh.

“I fear we are too strict and football loses its essence,” Alfaro said. “In football, there’s frictions, fights, clashes.”

The red card means Almiron will miss the final group stage match against Australia with second place in Group D on the line. FIFA could choose to lengthen a suspension to sideline Almiron for a knockout round match.

“I hope the penalty is he misses as few matches as possible,” Alfaro said. “He was very sorry and he was heavily affected.”

This is the second time in two games at the World Cup that Almiron was carded under a new rule in place this year. He got a yellow card in the opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and gave it to Almiron instead for diving.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Paraguay's Miguel Almiron reacts after received a red card during the World Cup Group D soccer match against Turke in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Referee Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros, of El Salvador, signals to ask for a VAR review before issuing a red card to Paraguay's Miguel Almiron (10) during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and Paraguay in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Paraguay's Miguel Almiron reacts after he received a red card during the World Cup Group D soccer match against Turke in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Paraguay's Miguel Almiron reacts after he received a red card during the World Cup Group D soccer match against Turke in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)