The Yankees' starting staff has exceeded expectations in 2026, with two young aces in the making: Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. Schlittler, with an AL-leading 1.35 ERA, and Warren, with a 3.42 ERA, have both emerged as early frontrunners for the AL All-Stars this summer. However, their success goes beyond just their ERA. Warren, in particular, has improved his K-BB% (strikeout rate minus walk rate) by more than 10 percentage points, making him one of the strongest predictors of future run prevention. This improvement is not just a result of throwing more pitches in the strike zone, but rather a combination of better command and pitch selection. Warren's pitches work in tandem, with his changeup playing off his sinker and his sweeper giving him a different look. This has led to an overall Pitching+ score that ranks third among qualified arms across MLB, and a PitchingBot score that leads all 79 qualified pitchers in the major leagues. Despite the absence of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil, the Yankees' starters still lead the Junior Circuit in wins, xERA, and FanGraphs WAR. Warren, in particular, has been a key contributor to the team's success, and is looking like another future ace for New York.
