Misiorowski and Schlittler: first pair of 25-and-under aces with a 200 ERA+ since 1905
Brewers righty Jacob Misiorowski and Yankees righty Cam Schlittler were unanimous Cy Young winners. According to CBS Sports, no two pitchers 25 or younger had both topped a 200 ERA+ in one season since Christy Mathewson and Ed Reulbach 121 years ago.
Jacob Misiorowski of the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees were named the 2026 Cy Young Award winners on Wednesday night, and both won unanimously. Each took all 30 first-place votes in his league, ESPN reported.
The number behind the award
The headline claim comes from CBS Sports, and it is narrower than it sounds. It is about ERA+, which adjusts earned run average for league and ballpark, with 100 as league average. Misiorowski finished at 232 and Schlittler at 215. CBS says they are the first pair of pitchers aged 25 or younger to both reach 200 since Mathewson (Giants, 233) and Reulbach (Cubs, 209) in 1905.
CBS also lists every season since 1900 with more than one 200-plus ERA+ starter. Counting 2026, only six seasons qualify, and none has had more than two:
| Season | Pitchers with ERA+ of 200 or more (per CBS Sports) |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Misiorowski, Brewers (232); Schlittler, Yankees (215) |
| 2018 | deGrom, Mets (218); Snell, Rays (217) |
| 2015 | Arrieta, Cubs (215); Greinke, Dodgers (222) |
| 1997 | Clemens, Blue Jays (222); Martinez, Expos (219) |
| 1907 | Lundgren, Cubs (211); Pfiester, Cubs (214) |
| 1905 | Mathewson, Giants (233); Reulbach, Cubs (209) |
CBS excludes the 60-game 2020 season. The 1905 pair pitched in the same league; 2026 is the third time the two 200 ERA+ pitchers came from different leagues, per CBS. Misiorowski was in his age-24 season and Schlittler in his age-25 season.
The seasons
| W-L | ERA | Innings | Strikeouts | ERA+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers | 16-5 | 1.80 | 174.2 | 252 | 232 |
| Cam Schlittler, Yankees | 14-6 | 1.95 | 193.2 | 239 | 215 |
Per ESPN, Misiorowski's 0.80 WHIP and 252 strikeouts led the majors, as did his ERA, and his 232 ERA+ was the best for a full season since Pedro Martinez's 291 in 2000. His fastball averaged 100.6 mph. He is the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2001 to win a Cy Young and a World Series in the same year. The Brewers won an MLB-best 103 games, and he started their World Series-clinching Game 5, ESPN said.
Schlittler, the first Yankee to win since Gerrit Cole in 2023, allowed one run or fewer in 21 starts and posted a 1.16 ERA in 17 road starts, ESPN reported. Runners-up were Cristopher Sanchez and Chris Sale in the NL, and Dylan Cease and Parker Messick in the AL.
Why it matters beyond the trophies
Both are in their first full big league seasons, and ESPN notes this is also the first year of the BBWAA's Reliever of the Year award (won by Mason Miller and Louis Varland). The awards land as ESPN's coverage asks whether a lockout or salary cap is coming in the sport's labor talks; we have not independently reported on those negotiations.
Follow the offseason on our MLB schedule and past results at MLB scores.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN. ERA+ comparisons are CBS Sports' analysis.
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