TORONTO — New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler said Boston Red Sox fans “crossed the line” by attacking members of his family on social media, and that it fueled him before he dominated by throwing eight scoreless innings in a 4-0 win in a do-or-die Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series on Thursday night.
“But at the end of the day,” Schlittler said, “there’s not much they can say now.”
Schlittler, a 24-year-old rookie, said he was especially disappointed because he grew up in Walpole, Mass. — not far from Boston.
“I wasn’t really expecting it to go that far,” he said.
Schlittler was speaking to reporters in the visitors’ clubhouse at Rogers Centre before the Yankees’ workout. Game 1 of the AL Division Series is set for Saturday afternoon.
Late Thursday, Schlittler alluded to the win feeling “personal” for him. On Friday, he said the venom his family received “100 percent” helped him while he was on the mound. He ended up striking out 12 hitters and walking none in easily the biggest start of his life.
“I was locked in when I woke up (Friday),” he said. “Again, it was going to be a big day. As I told Andy (Pettitte) the day before, I wasn’t going to let them beat me. I think that kind of lit the fire a little bit. I was able to go out there a little bit more locked in than I usually am.”
At least one screenshot circulated online late Thursday of a Red Sox fan’s account mocking Schlittler’s mother before she switched her account from public to private.
Learning that Red Sox fans were harassing Cam Schlittler’s mom just made that shove session all the more sweet.
Kid is a legend. pic.twitter.com/56ameewM29
— Jacob P.M.🌔 (@JacobBSpeaks) October 3, 2025
Schlittler said some people sent him links and screenshots of the harassment.
“Some of the bigger accounts they got over there, I was able to see, unfortunately,” he said. “I don’t really check my phone much before the game, but there was some stuff that was brought to my attention. Don’t need to give them the attention they’re looking for, but just channel it and made sure I took it in the right way.”
The Northeastern University product didn’t completely ignore Red Sox fans, though. He took a couple of jabs via posts on X. In one post, he said he was “Drinking dat dirty water,” a reference to the Red Sox’s victory song “Dirty Water” by The Standells. He was at it again on Friday afternoon, responding to someone who said he wasn’t from Boston.
Went to school in bos for 3 years, I live in Southie during the off season, start preparing for the bruins szn homie ✌️
— Cam (@Cam32Schlittler) October 3, 2025
He added that his friends are big Red Sox fans, and that while they were happy to see him succeed, they were “bummed out” that he knocked Boston out of the postseason.
“But I told them that’s exactly what’s going to happen,” he said. “They’ll get over it. Hockey season is coming up. Basketball season is coming up. I’m sure they’ve got other things to distract them.”
Manager Aaron Boone was aware of the harassment Schlittler’s family received, but said he didn’t have to talk him through it.
“Cam’s a tough kid,” Boone said, “and I know (he) is going to handle any slings and arrows. Social media can be an ugly place sometimes, unfortunately. We try to prepare our guys and obviously support our guys in so many different ways, but Cam is broad-shouldered, confident, clear-eyed, and I don’t think going to be affected by much.
“There’s a line that can be crossed. I think if it’s a different fan base coming at them, I’d be a little bit more OK with it. Again, I think just it being Boston was a little more disappointing.”
Schlittler said he was walking on the treadmill 40 minutes before Thursday’s start when he sent a text message to some family members, asking them not to respond to online hate.
Schlittler said he “can’t really repeat” what he told Boone the night before his start.
“I told him I was ready to go and just reassuring him that I’ve got no ties to Boston,” Schlittler said.
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)
