Connelly Early facing Cam Schlittler in AL Wild Card Series Game 3

NEW YORK – Cam Schlittler, a fireballing 24-year-old righty who grew up rooting for the Red Sox, officially entered the Yankees†universe on July 9, when he made the first of his 14 starts down the stretch.

Connelly Early, the No. 6 prospect for the Red Sox per MLB Pipeline, wasnâ€t in the plans to be in the clubâ€s starting rotation in September, let alone October.

Fittingly, as this AL Wild Card Series between the forever rivals gets ready to go the distance with Game 3 on Thursday night, it will pit a pitching matchup nobody could have predicted even a month ago.

But thatâ€s Red Sox-Yankees, when another great subplot always seems to be right around the corner.

“Obviously it is going to be loud here. Two rookies, Game 3, Wild Card, Yankees-Red Sox. Imagine that?†said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “It should be a fun night.â€

Not to mention an unprecedented one.

This will be Earlyâ€s fifth career appearance, including playoffs, and Schlittlerâ€s 15th. Itâ€ll be the first game in postseason history between two starters each making their 15th career appearance or fewer (regular season and postseason combined).

The matchup will be the third-youngest in win-or-go-home games. Here is how they rank:

Schlittler grew up in Walpole, Mass., then took his talents to Northeastern University in Boston.

Through it all, he rooted for the Sox. And then the Yankees took him in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft and everything changed.

There is at least one Massachusetts family who will be rooting for the Yankees on Wednesday.

“I would say so,†Schlittler said. “Growing up in Boston, I take pride in being from Boston. When it comes to my career and where I wanted to be, this is where I wanted to be. [My family], they are full Yankee guys now. They don’t wear [Yankees gear] around as much in Boston just because. But when they are here, they are very prideful about it.â€

Schlittler (4-3, 2.96 ERA) showcased triple-digit velocity through his first 14 big league starts after being promoted in July and quickly earning a place in the rotation. This will mark Schlittler’s first career outing vs. the Red Sox, though he did face them once as a Northeastern University freshman in a Fort Myers, Fla., exhibition.

Likewise, Early has never faced the Yankees.

It will be interesting to see which offense adjusts more quickly to a starting pitcher theyâ€ve never faced.

Early will become the fifth pitcher in history to make a postseason start within his first five MLB appearances.

Dylan Lee (ATL) (opener) – 2021 WS G4
Shane Baz (TB) – 2021 ALDS G2
Ryan Merritt (CLE) – 2016 ALCS G5
Matt Moore (TB) – 2011 ALDS G1

The opportunity for Early to start the biggest game of the season for the Red Sox came about when Lucas Giolito was shut down just prior to the playoffs with an irritated right flexor tendon.

“Yeah, Iâ€m super excited about it. Really good feeling to get this opportunity, and just ready to get out there,†said Early.

His teammates have developed an eye-opening amount of confidence in someone who has such a small sample size.

“He reminds me a lot of [Red Sox injured star rookie] Roman [Anthony],†said Boston outfielder Jarren Duran. “Theyâ€re both so young, but they’re so calm, cool and collected, and it’s awesome to see that. I can’t wait to see him get on the mound tomorrow and see that big smile he always has when he’s competing.â€

It is a big spot for Early to be in, but one he earned by notching a 2.33 ERA in those first four starts in the regular season after he was called up to fill in for injured No. 5 starter Dustin May, who still hasnâ€t returned to action.

It has been a swift rise for a pitcher the Red Sox selected out of Virginia in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft. Before going to Virginia, a major college baseball program, Early was at Army throwing in the low 80s. In those days, he was finding time for baseball when he wasnâ€t fulfilling his military requirements.

On Thursday, the season will end for one of these two young pitchers. It should be fascinating to see how it unfolds.

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