Yаnkees’ rіgһt-һаnder рrіmed to serve іmрortаnt bullрen role іn tһe рlаyoffs

Recently returned starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt could be one of those guys who makes the move to the bullpen for the postseason. Schmidt came back from a lat strain at the beginning after missing three months. Prior to the injury, he was one of the Yankees’ best-starting pitchers through the first two months, but the lengthy absence as well as the deep rotation following Gerrit Cole’s return are factors in moving Schmidt to the pen.

Schmidt made his third start since coming off the IL Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. He threw five innings allowing one earned run, six hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. He settled down after a rocky first inning that was exacerbated by poor Yankees’ defense.

Schmidt threw 99 pitches Thursday, the most he has thrown in a game since his return. The Yankees will likely try to keep his pitch count under 100 as much as possible to avoid another injury, but they also want to keep him stretched out for potential long-relief appearances out of the bullpen.

The Yankees have a deep starting rotation

The Yankees’ playoff rotation will likely include Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil. They seem to be deciding on who the fourth starter would be between Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, and Nestor Cortes. Stroman’s last two starts have been skipped and the Yankees have made him available out of the bullpen. He recorded his first save since his rookie season in 2014, pitching the final three innings of an 11-2 blowout victory on Tuesday.

Cortes pitched the final 4.1 innings out of the bullpen in Schmidt’s return, to which the lefty expressed displeasure for being taken out of the rotation. Since then, the Yankees have put him back in the rotation and he has been dominant, pitching to an 0.82 ERA, 12.27 K/9, and a 1.18 WHIP in his last two starts.

Cortes may take the last rotation spot over Schmidt

Therefore, the Yankees might feel more inclined to keep Cortes in the rotation to give them an additional lefty to start postseason games. Schmidt has experience as a high-leverage reliever, as he recorded two saves and pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 29 games (26 in relief) in 2022, so they might feel comfortable having him come on in relief to cover a starter for extended stretches and eat some innings.

The Yankees will have some big decisions to make as the season draws to a close. They have nine games remaining and are looking to nail down a tight division race with the Baltimore Orioles, one in which the Yankees have a four-game advantage entering Friday.