The Yankees are shutting down starter Clarke Schmidt for 4-6 weeks. Manager Aaron Boone announced the news to the New York beat before tonight’s game with the Angels (X link via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Schmidt underwent an MRI yesterday and landed on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain this afternoon.
Schmidt’s absence will extend well beyond the minimum. He’s almost certainly out through the All-Star Break at this point. There’s a good chance he doesn’t return until after the trade deadline. Even in the best case scenario where Schmidt is able to begin a throwing program in the first half of July, he’ll need multiple weeks to return to MLB readiness. He’ll go through bullpen sessions and live batting practice before heading on a minor league rehab stint that’ll likely require at least two or three starts.
It halts what had been an excellent start to the season for the South Carolina product. Schmidt has a 2.52 ERA over 11 starts, punching out more than 27% of opposing hitters. He had performed at a back-of-the-rotation level in 2023, when he allowed 4.64 earned runs per nine over 33 appearances. Schmidt was building a reasonable All-Star case, a major reason why the Yankees have an AL-best 38-19 record.
[Related: The New and Improved Clarke Schmidt]
New York’s rotation has been stellar despite losing Gerrit Cole to elbow inflammation in Spring Training. Only the Phillies have a better ERA from their starting staff than the Yankees’ 2.69 mark. New York starters also trail just Philadelphia in strikeout rate and are behind the Phils, Mariners and Royals in innings.
That’s a remarkable couple months for a team operating without the defending AL Cy Young winner. They have had essentially perfect health following Cole’s injury. Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Schmidt have taken all but one start. The Yankees will face some rotation uncertainty for the first time since March.
Cody Poteet took the lone other start, working six innings of one-run ball against the Guardians as part of a doubleheader on April 13. Poteet is the first choice to step into Schmidt’s rotation spot; Boone announced that the right-hander will take the ball in San Francisco on Saturday. While Poteet has been on the minor league injured list for a week because of a blister, he’s expected to be ready two days from now.
The Yankees signed Poteet to a split contract in January. The 29-year-old righty turned in decent numbers in 58 2/3 innings for the Marlins between 2021-22. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August ’22, leading Miami to cut him loose. That the Yankees gave him a 40-man roster spot was a surprise, but he’s thus far rewarded their faith with an impressive two months in Triple-A. Over seven starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he has a 4.05 ERA with a 28.1% strikeout percentage and a solid 8.1% walk rate.
Poteet may only need to hold a starting spot for a couple weeks. Cole has been throwing for more than a month and is closing in on a rehab assignment. Boone said that the six-time All-Star could head out on a minor league stint as soon as next week (relayed on X by Chris Kirschner of the Athletic). He’ll need to make multiple starts but could be back at Yankee Stadium by the latter half of June.
Schmidt’s injury doesn’t immediately look as if it’ll impact the Yankees’ approach to the deadline. By late July, New York could have a rotation of Cole, Rodón, Stroman, Cortes and Gil with a Schmidt return on the horizon. That’d be one of the strongest units in the majors. Any more injuries would test the depth, though, particularly with Gil’s 63 1/3 innings already well beyond his combined workload of 2022-23 because of May ’22 Tommy John surgery.
well at least they don’t need to be worrying who to get rid of when cole comes back
Well if Cole comes back in mid-July, that will likely be just a week or two before Schmidt returns, so unless ANOTHER starter is injured they’ll be in the exact same boat shortly after Cole’s return.
Not a bad problem to have, mind you, but it’s not like Schmidt going down really solves it. My guess is, one of those other starters is either injured or inneffective by the time the ASG rolls around. Gil will also be on an innings limit, most likely.
Cole’s return is expected by mid June not July, so it’s about 3 turns on the rotation that will be needed from somone else other than Schmidt, not bad at all.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing for the Yankees
Neither? The rotation has been remarkably healthy over the first two months. An IL stint was bound to happen. Good thing the Yankees have some SP depth.
The starting rotation (and bullpen) has really been impressive up to this point but what has been key so far this year is Rodon and Cortes bouncing back.
It’s more of a bad thing for Schmidt since his rotation spot was on the bubble whenever Cole comes back. With guys like Rodon and Stroman’s injury histories he’ll still likely get plenty of starts
Not good or bad, just business as usual handling with injuries. Obviously they were sailing with no problem w/o Cole, but now, the pressure to decide who’s the odd man out of the rotation when Cole return has been moved forward
Must be really serious if two of the top three articles right now are about him.
Someone was bound to go down, at least it’s a Lat, not a UCL. Poteet is a premium 6th starter piece to be able to summon from AAA. Hopefully we won’t need to get into the 7th and beyond guys.
Uh oh, Sergio
Sergio Valente
Sergio Valente
Jeans!
Check out the brain on Jerry Hairston!
It can’t be a good thing. Your right an IL stint is inevitable but losing Schmidt hurts. It’s a 6 week shut down so your really looking at 8 weeks best case scenario. Who knows what Cole is going to have when he comes back. Cole is an incredible pitcher but he’s got a lot of mileage on that elbow. It’s a bit concerning.
They were due for someone to go to the IL. Not the guy I would’ve bet on though as NY has 3 SP there who have pretty chequered injury histories.
With Judge being JUDGE and Soto continuing to do his usual thing, the runs will keep coming. The staff doesn’t really need to be all that great. Unfortunately for everyone in the East, the O’s look like they’ll win 105 games.
Does that put the Yankees at 110 wins then?
Bummer for Clarke
I told everyone last year how great he will be but the average fan didn’t seem very impressed and wanted the yanks to sign some $30 million a year pitcher
I prefer the yanks give their young talent the opportunity to take them to the WS
I wish they could give away DJLM
Hopefully Cashman doesn’t trade away more starting pitchers at the Trade deadline and put us in a bad position to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Cashman at a minimum will be looking to acquire another decent starter, not subtract since they only have Poteet, Brubaker and Warren as backup options.
Luke Weaver can also start. Much easier to add to the pen.
The Yankees will continue with injuries, become a .500 team in the second half, and get eliminated in the postseason by the Astros. Hee hee heeee.
Tha Astros and Postseason are two words you would not hear togetherin ’24. They’ll finish behind the A’s. He he he he!