Cam Schlittler beat out Dylan Cease for the AL Outstanding Pitcher award at the Players Choice Awards. It could be a preview of the Cy Young vote.

The players' vote went to the Yankees right-hander. Schlittler went 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA.

He also posted a 0.92 WHIP over 193.2 innings.

The 25-year-old Massachusetts native only debuted in 2025. He helped the Yankees win the AL East before the Rays knocked them out in the ALDS.

Cease was no slouch. He went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA over 29 starts in his first season in Toronto.

He struck out 239 batters, his sixth straight season with 200 or more. He also led the AL in hits per nine, strikeouts per nine and homers per nine.

Dylan Cease carried a Blue Jays offence that couldn't score

The context makes his season even more impressive. Toronto scored the fewest runs and hit the fewest home runs in baseball, leaving the staff to carry the club.

He made his first All-Star team and started the game for the AL, which John Schneider managed.

So did the players get it right? Yes.

Schlittler's line was simply better. A sub-2.00 ERA over more innings with a lower WHIP beats even a great season, and Cease's two short IL stints didn't help his case.

Cease ran a brilliant race and still finished second. Sometimes the guy in the next lane just has one more gear.

Toronto's bigger concern is health. He ended the year on the IL with shoulder inflammation but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Year one of his seven-year, $210 million deal still looks like a win. He's now 76-64 with a 3.67 ERA over eight seasons.

The World Series continues tonight. The Brewers lead the Rays 3-1 after Ben Williamson's pinch-hit walk-off in the 12th inning gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 win in Game 4.

Cease will have another shot at hardware when the Cy Young results come out. Toronto just needs his shoulder to cooperate so he can chase it again in 2027.