The Yankees rotation is struggling to start the season.
Entering Saturday, New York’s starters have an ERA of 5.46 — the highest in MLB. The non-Max Fried arms (Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman) have not done their jobs consistently enough to help the Yankees bats get through the cold spring months.
Fortunately for the Yankees, reinforcements are on the way in the form of Clarke Schmidt.
The 29-year-old righty completed his second rehab start with Somerset on Friday and rejoined the team on Saturday and says everything went well.
“Everything went good and feeling good,” Schmidt said in front of his locker before Saturday’s game. “Happy for where everything’s at.”
Schmidt was slotted to make the rotation out of spring training, but a rotator cuff injury forced him to the IL to start the season. Six weeks later, and Schmidt’s return is imminent.
The right-hander said he hasn’t been told his return date — manager Aaron Boone had said he’s penciled him for the the Kansas City Royals series early next week — but Schmidt will throw a side session Saturday and go from there.
And it can’t come at a better time. Stroman struggled in the inclement weather in Friday’s 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, where the veteran right-hander could only get two outs before being pulled. To add injury to insult, Stroman told the team his knee was nagging and he underwent tests.
While the Yankees await word on Stroman, they’ll need Schmidt’s steadiness after the rotation’s rocky start to the season.
Last season, Schmidt pitched to a 2.85 ERA and a 1.184 WHIP in 16 starts.
“Excited to get him back, obviously,” Boone said prior to Saturday’s game. “He’s turned into a really good pitcher in the league. Feel like he’s in a really good spot, too. His setbacks in spring training were pretty minor in nature. So the biggest challenge for him, is just been getting built up. Excited to get him back and know what he can mean to our staff.”
When asked if he had a sense of urgency to return knowing the rotation’s struggles, Schmidt brushed it off.
“I have a sense of urgency regardless, regardless of how we’re doing or how anybody’s performing,” he said. “I’m eager to get out there. So, doesn’t affect me.”
What did affect Schmidt was landing on the IL and not being able to help the Yankees (7-6) get off to a better start.
“It’s obviously frustrating. I want to be out there competing with my guys,” Schmidt said. “This is something that I don’t want to happen. Being able to go out there and compete every five days is something that I hold close to my heart and I want to make sure that I’m able to do that. Play at a high level consistently and be one of the guys that these guys rely on.
“Definitely looking forward to putting this past me and getting out there and being able to do that.”
After the weekend series with the Giants, the Yankees will host the Royals for a three-game set starting Monday. Schmidt is expected to make his first 2025 start on Tuesday or Wednesday.
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