For much of the 2026 MLB season, Yankees ace Cam Schlittler has been viewed as the favorite to capture the American League Cy Young Award. His remarkable rookie campaign has been one of baseballs biggest stories, and he has spent most of the year atop Cy Young rankings.Now, however, theres a new frontrunner. Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease has surged into the conversation with another dominant stretch, and based on the current numbers, he has a legitimate case to move ahead of Schlittler in the race for the ALs top pitching honor. MLB Network recently compared the two aces side by side, and the race couldnt be much closer.MORE: Yankees Aaron Judge gives significant injury updateThe numbers tell the storyApr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesAccording to MLB Network, heres how the two pitchers compare this season:Dylan Cease21 starts7-5 record2.28 ERA126.1 innings pitched13.1 K/91.04 WHIPCam Schlittler24 starts10-6 record2.26 ERA139.2 innings pitched11.0 K/90.95 WHIPAt first glance, Schlittler owns the slight edge in ERA, innings pitched, WHIP, and wins. However, Ceases elite strikeout rate has helped fuel his recent rise, and many believe he has been the more dominant pitcher over the second half of the season thus far.MORE: Red Sox got fleeced on MLB trade deadline dayTight finish awaitsApr 17, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesThis isnt a knock on what Schlittler has accomplished. The Yankees ace has exceeded every expectation and remains one of the best pitchers in baseball.But Cy Young races often come down to who finishes the strongest, and Cease appears to have the momentum entering the final stretch of the regular season.With several starts still remaining for both pitchers, the award is far from decided. If the season ended today, though, theres a strong argument that Dylan Cease has done enough to overtake Schlittler as the favorite for the American League Cy Young Award. It should be one of the most entertaining individual races to watch over the final weeks of the season.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter