NEW YORK — A postseason celebration quickly shifted into a social media feud. Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler turned in one of the finest October pitching performances in recent memory. Then he fueled an online storm with a three-word reply that went viral.
The Massachusetts native ended his hometown team’s season on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. He pitched eight shutout innings, struck out 12, and walked none. The Red Sox had no answers in a 4-0 loss that pushed New York into the division series.
But Schlittler didn’t stop there.
Schlittler’s dominating performance sparks social media shots
Lucy Burdge, a gambling influencer and lifelong Red Sox fan, had posted her prediction before first pitch. She wrote “Sox in 3” on X, expecting Boston to force a deciding game.
Schlittler made sure it didn’t happen. After shutting down the Red Sox lineup, he saw her post and fired back with just three words.
The comment sparked immediate reaction online. Burdge, who partners with DraftKings and commands a large following in Boston sports circles, wasn’t amused. She took to the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast to declare a new rivalry.
“Now, I am going to be eagle-eyed watching [Schlittler],” Burdge said. “Because do I have some tweets in the drafts ready to go at Cam Schlittler should he do anything good or bad. Mostly bad. Because now I have a new opp — Cam Schlittler, Walpole’s own.”
Hometown hero becomes public enemy
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The hometown reference hit hard. Schlittler grew up in Walpole, Massachusetts, surrounded by Red Sox supporters. His family cheered for Boston long before he became a Yankee. Now, he is the one who ended their playoff hopes.
The 24-year-old right-hander dominated with a fastball that consistently reached triple digits. He carved through Boston’s lineup, making even top hitters look overmatched. Jarren Duran struck out swinging to end the fifth inning as part of the parade of punchouts.
When Schlittler left after eight innings, Yankee Stadium roared. Fans gave him a standing ovation, teammates mobbed him, and later, the clubhouse filled with champagne.
After midnight, Schlittler added one more jab. He posted, “Drinking dat dirty water,” a nod to Boston’s famous victory song. It was a celebration for Yankees fans and salt in the wound for Red Sox Nation.
Influencer vows revenge campaign
For Burdge, the night was brutal. The Red Sox had shown promise through the season, making their playoff appearance feel like progress. Schlittler erased that optimism in one outing.
Her emotions spilled across social media. When New York scored four runs in the fourth inning, she wrote: “It’s designed to break your heart.”
As Boston edged toward elimination, she added: “I wish this was a best of 7 series, I’m going to miss this.”
When the final out landed, Burdge reached out to fellow fans: “If you’re also crashing out reply I love you.”
But the grief didn’t last long. Once she saw Schlittler’s reply, her anger flared. She escalated the feud on her podcast.
“It’s not over,” Burdge declared. “And it’s only just begun. This is Day 1 of my war with Cam Schlittler. This is war. This guy can go to hell. Get out, you are just a mosquito. But now I’m like ‘OK, OK, this is war.’”
Rookie relishes bragging rights
camschlittler_@instagram
Schlittler earned his moment. The Yankees promoted him in early July after strong minor league results. He finished the regular season with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts, and New York went 10-5 in his outings, including the Wild Card round.
The postseason stage didn’t faze him. Facing his hometown team seemed to sharpen his edge. After the win, standing in the champagne-soaked clubhouse, he explained the significance.
“I had an opportunity to pitch to a good lineup and end their season and get bragging rights over everyone I know back home,” Schlittler said.
That mission was complete. Friends, family, and former classmates who supported Boston watched him crush their season. His online trolling only added to the sting.
High stakes continue
The Yankees now move on to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the division series. Schlittler’s dominance gives New York a valuable boost as they continue their postseason push.
For Burdge, the focus has shifted from heartbreak to revenge. She has promised to monitor every Schlittler start, with tweets ready to fire whether he succeeds or struggles.
Her feud with the rookie has become an entertaining subplot for fans. A young pitcher eliminating his hometown team and taunting a popular influencer created a storyline that blends baseball drama with social media spectacle.
Schlittler described the atmosphere as “epic” and said he wanted to “take it all in.” From strikeouts to champagne, and from celebrations to online barbs, he certainly did.
“It’s definitely a dream to play Boston in the playoffs and end their season,” Schlittler said.
That dream came true for him. For Burdge and Red Sox Nation, it was a nightmare — one she’s determined to turn into payback, tweet by tweet.
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