The New York Yankees are facing a significant pitching crisis, with Gerrit Cole out for the season following Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil sidelined by a lat strain. They also lost Clarke Schmidt to rotator cuff tendinitis late in spring training.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided an update on Schmidt’s recovery, stating that he expects him to return by April 15 or 16 after two rehab starts, starting this weekend with the Somerset Patriots.
This return is crucial for the Yankees, who are currently operating with a four-man rotation. After Will Warren’s strong performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Carlos Rodón will take the mound Wednesday.
Carlos Carrasco is also on the roster but has been used out of the bullpen so far. Schmidt’s delay due to injury means Carrasco will likely make a start before his return.
Strong pitching is essential for the Yankees in the competitive American League, and Schmidt’s injury has pushed back his season by three weeks.
The Yankees opened the season with a 3-0 record after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, with their record-setting nine home runs on Saturday sparking talk about “torpedo bats.” While the offense has been explosive, the defense has shown some familiar flaws.
Aaron Judge already has four home runs after hitting his fourth in his 25th game last season, and rookie Anthony Volpe has three homers after hitting just 12 in 2024.
The offense is firing on all cylinders, but the pitching will need to be just as strong for the Yankees to contend with teams like the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Rays.
With Cole out for the year, Schmidt will play a key role when he returns. The Yankees continue their series with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at 7.
