About Yesterday: Cleaning Up The Mess. Yankees 2, Mets 0

About Yesterday: Cleaning Up The Mess.  Yankees 2 – Mets 0

By Tim Kabel

September 14, 2026

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The Yankees beat the Mets 2-0 Yesterday, winning this three-game series two games to one and splitting the season series at three games each. It was yet another dominant

performance by Cam Schlittler, as he improved his record to 14-6. Schlittler struck out 8 and walked 2. The Mets were 0-11 against his fastball.

Brent Headrick, (of course), Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar came in to close out the game. It was Headrick's 76th appearance of the season. Blackburn, who is apparently a slacker, has only been in 57 games this season. Headrick and Blackburn will never have to sing “Getting to Know You” from The King and I to the fans. It is a rare occurrence that we don't see one or both of them in a game.

Ben Rice led off the game with his 38th home run of the season. He now has 90 RBI and is batting .260. Austin Wells broke an 0-20 slump with his 11th home run in the third inning. Of all the starters in the Yankees lineup yesterday, Luis Garcia has the highest batting average at .289. Cody Bellinger is next at .268. Surprisingly to many is the fact that Spencer Jones is in third place, batting .265. Jones has also shown an ability to hit left-handed pitching.

Remember, many members of the media and fans wanted to ship Jones out of town in almost any and every trade possible. They did not think that he had the makings of a Major Leaguer. Yet, here he is, developing right before our eyes and contributing something positive almost every day. That’s Baseball, Suzyn.

Speaking of Jones, He was one of five homegrown players in the Yankees lineup yesterday. When you add in Schlittler, that is a very large contribution from players developed through the Yankees system. Considering that the Yankees have players such as Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodriguez, (I know he came over to trade from the Red Sox, but he has been developing in the Yankees system for two years now), and others close to being able to contribute, the short-term and long-term prospects look very bright for the Yankees.

A Few Tidbits: 

·       This was Cam Schlittler’s 21st start this year allowing one run or none. The only other pitcher aged 25 or younger with more in the last 110 years was the Los Angeles Angels’ Dean Chance with 22 in 1964. Schlittler has a good chance to pass Chance.

·       Aaron Judge struck out three times and is 3-17 since returning on Tuesday from a broken rib. No one should be surprised or disappointed by this. It is going to take him time to get his swing back. He has been out since the end of May. The important thing is that he is healthy and is getting ready for the playoffs.

·       The Mets were shut out for the 14th time this season.

·       The Mets are seemingly headed in the right direction despite losing the series to the Yankees. They are 22 -14 since the August 3rd trade deadline.

·       This was the 14th time the Yankees shut out their opponent this season.

·       Cam Schlittler took over the Major League lead in earned run average by dropping percentage points below Milwaukee’s Jason Misiorowski. Schlittler’s ERA is now 1.945.

·       On September 13th, 1927, the “Murderers’ Row” New York Yankees officially clinched the American League Pennant with a 17-game lead over the Philadelphia Athletics. The Yankees eventually swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

·       Yesterday was Bernie Williams 58th birthday.

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 Today, The Yankees will open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at 7:40 PM at Target Field. Will Warren, (10-6, 4.05 ERA) will pitch for the Yankees against Dean Kremer, (3-5, 5.65 ERA). Dean Kremer sounds like he should be running a college.