New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler has built a compelling AL MVP case, but Ken Rosenthal still sees Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez as the clear choice. Schlittler strengthened his candidacy with six scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-0 win over the New York Mets, lowering his AL-best ERA to 1.95. His consistency and workload have kept him among the league's most valuable players while giving New York a reliable presence atop its rotation throughout the season.

Foul Territory TV Network took to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday and posted a clip from The Athletic's Rosenthal explaining why Schlittler's case ultimately falls short in his view.

“Yordan Alvarez, to me, seems to be the obvious choice because of what he's accomplished offensively.”

You can make an argument for Cam Schlittler's AL MVP case, but @Ken_Rosenthal isn't sold.

"Yordan Alvarez, to me, seems to be the obvious choice because of what he's accomplished offensively." pic.twitter.com/cmwFm1qau5

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 14, 2026

Schlittler's outing Sunday gave the MVP discussion more momentum. The 25-year-old flamethrower allowed one hit and struck out eight over six innings against the Mets, improving to 14-6 across 31 starts. He has 228 strikeouts, a .90 WHIP, and 184 2/3 innings this season.

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The right-hander's value has become a topic of discussion within the Yankees organization. Manager Aaron Boone raised Schlittler's MVP candidacy following Sunday's victory, while the Yankees remain on the verge of securing a postseason berth.

History, however, presents another obstacle for Schlittler. Justin Verlander in 2011 remains the last full-time pitcher to win AL MVP, while Clayton Kershaw captured the NL award in 2014.

Alvarez has produced the type of offensive season that traditionally attracts MVP support. The Astros star entered Monday batting .310 with 38 home runs, 96 RBIs, and a 1.016 OPS through 146 games.

The right-hander still has time to strengthen his case over the final weeks of the regular season. Each remaining start gives Schlittler another opportunity to add to a season already defined by durability and run prevention. Rosenthal's assessment highlights the decision facing AL MVP voters as they weigh Schlittler's dominant season on the mound against Alvarez's elite offensive production.