Yankees Place Clarke Schmidt Back on Injured List with Forearm Tightness

The New York Yankees have once again lost an arm out of their rotation. According to the team’s social media post Friday morning, Clarke Schmidt is suffering from right forearm tightness, prompting them to place him on the 15-day injured list. Schmidt exited after two innings in Thursday’s game in Toronto.

Second Stint

Unfortunately, this is already Schmidt’s second stint on the injured list this season. Prior to the regular season, Schmidt suffered from right rotator cuff tendonitis, which forced him to miss about a month of action. With two of New York’s starters already on the injured list with long-term injuries, Schmidt’s second injury could be a huge setback to an otherwise competent Yankee rotation.

Prior to today’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
• Recalled RHP Scott Effross (#57) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
• Recalled LHP Jayvien Sandridge (#88) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
• Placed RHP Clarke Schmidt on the 15-day injured list with…

The Reinforcements

In a corresponding move, the Yankees also recalled right-handed reliever Scott Effross and left-handed reliever Jayvien Sandridge from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Effross, who missed all of 2023 and most of ’24 due to injuries, has a 7.71 ERA across 11 2/3 innings with the Railriders. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to see much major league action, but perhaps he’ll get another shot out of the bullpen with Schmidt on the IL.

As for Sandridge, this is his second recall in the past month despite not seeing any time on the mound. Through 10 1/3 innings with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he has a 0.87 ERA with 19 strikeouts, walking five, and surrendering six hits. With a limited number of left-handers available in the bullpen, the Yankees very well may make use of Sandridge as a situational reliever thanks to his potent stuff.

Running Out of Options

With Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Ryan Yarbrough all on the injured list, the Yankees will have to find another option to be their fifth starter. Marcus Stroman is back from an injury, which makes things a bit easier, but New York certainly does not have a surefire answer to who will anchor the back of the rotation.