The New York Yankees’ starting rotation, which boasts the best ERA in the American League, has encountered a setback that could impact the team into the summer. Pitcher Clarke Schmidt has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain.
Schmidt’s IL stint is retroactive to May 27, making him eligible to return on June 11, depending on the injury’s severity. Lat strains can be significant, as evidenced by Luis Severino’s two-month IL stay with a similar issue in 2022, according to NJ.com’s Randy Miller.
This season, Schmidt has made 11 starts, recording a 2.52 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 60 2/3 innings and a 5–3 record. In his last outing, he pitched five innings against the San Diego Padres, giving up one earned run and three hits. This marked his fourth consecutive start allowing two earned runs or fewer, during which he surrendered just three earned runs over 24 2/3 innings.
Schmidt’s success is part of a record-setting streak by Yankees starters, who have pitched at least five innings while allowing two runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts, heading into Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Yankees starters had a 2.69 ERA going into Thursday’s game, just behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2.68 ERA.
The Yankees’ rotation was already shorthanded entering the 2024 season, with Gerrit Cole sidelined during spring training due to right elbow inflammation. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner hopes to rejoin the roster in June after three recent throwing sessions. If Cole avoids setbacks, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week.
If Cole returns soon, Schmidt’s injury might prevent the Yankees from having to decide who to remove from the rotation, unless manager Aaron Boone opts for a six-man staff in the short term.
Reliever Cody Morris has been called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Schmidt’s roster spot. Morris, a right-hander, joined the Yankees this season after six years with the Cleveland Guardians. In 13 appearances, he has a 2.82 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 14 walks over 22 1/3 innings.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto drove in five runs in the Yankees’ 8-3 win over the Angels on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Here are the takeaways:
– Last season, Carlos Rodon infamously blew a kiss to the crowd after a poor outing in Anaheim. This time, he pitched six strong innings, with the only blemish being a solo home run by Logan O’Hoppe in the second inning. Rodon retired 14 in a row before allowing two more runs in the seventh, finishing with three runs allowed on three hits, one walk, and five strikeouts over 87 pitches (58 strikes).
– Judge hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Soto’s bases-clearing triple in the seventh extended the Yankees’ lead to 7-1. Jose Trevino added a sac fly in the eighth, making it 8-3. Anthony Volpe ended his 21-game hitting streak, going 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Clarke Schmidt, Nasty 87mph Sweeper. 😨 pic.twitter.com/l7UYSXtiP4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2024
– Ian Hamilton, making his first appearance since May 17 after being on the COVID IL, pitched effectively in relief of Rodon. The combination of Hamilton, Caleb Ferguson, Tommy Kahnle, and Michael Tonkin secured the final nine outs.
Game MVPs: Aaron Judge and Juan Soto
Judge’s homer gave the Yankees an early lead, and Soto’s triple provided a comfortable margin.
The Yankees head to San Francisco for a three-game series with the Giants starting Friday at 10:15 p.m. Marcus Stroman (4-2, 2.76 ERA) will face Jordan Hicks (4-1, 2.33 ERA).
