Yankees’ Starter Makes Significant Progress in Rehab, Eyes Return
The New York Yankees are feeling optimistic about starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt’s recovery, following his recent rehab performance with the Scranton RailRiders in Triple-A. The team hopes Schmidt can rejoin the Yankees within the next week, providing much-needed support to their struggling starting rotation.
Schmidt Impresses in Latest Rehab Start
In his second rehab appearance, and first with Scranton, Schmidt showcased his skills on Tuesday, pitching three innings with only one run allowed on three hits, and striking out five batters. Notably, four of those strikeouts came from his curveball, demonstrating his ability to effectively locate his signature pitch. This is an encouraging sign for the Yankees, who are eager to have Schmidt back in the rotation in full health.
Clarke Cooked! 🧑🍳
3 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 BB | 5 K pic.twitter.com/xQJOK3WRj9
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) August 28, 2024
Before being sidelined with a lat strain in late May, Schmidt was performing well for New York. Over 11 starts this season, he posted a 5-3 record with a 2.52 ERA and recorded 67 strikeouts in 60.2 innings. The Yankees’ rotation has struggled in his absence, with a 4.72 ERA, a 4.50 FIP, and an average of 1.43 home runs allowed per nine innings since Schmidt’s last start on May 26.
Yankees Eager for Schmidt’s Return
The Yankees are in dire need of Schmidt’s return to the rotation, especially with rookie starter Luis Gil sidelined by a lower back injury and Will Warren facing challenges during his brief major league stint. Schmidt’s return would provide crucial stability for a Yankees team that currently holds a narrow one-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East as of Thursday.
Before Wednesday’s game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Schmidt is expected to make at least one more rehab start to ensure he’s fully prepared for the final month of the season, according to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. Depending on his progress, Schmidt could potentially rejoin the rotation at the start of September.
The Yankees’ upcoming schedule includes a three-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by a three-game road series against the defending champions, the Texas Rangers. Looking ahead, Schmidt could be back in the rotation before their series against the Chicago Cubs next weekend.
