Yankees face tough call on Clarke Schmidt’s April 3 start due to shoulder concerns

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Clarke Schmidt’s availability for his scheduled start on April 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks remains uncertain as the Yankees assess whether to continue building him up or give him more time to recover. The right-hander, who experienced shoulder soreness and fatigue following his last spring outing, threw a bullpen session on Monday at Steinbrenner Field. While he reported feeling good, the Yankees opted for caution, scaling back his workload instead of having him pitch in a game.

Yankees monitoring Clarke Schmidt’s status

Schmidt’s throwing progression will be key in the next few days. He threw around 25 pitches in his bullpen session and is expected to do the same in a live session on Thursday. With just over a week until Opening Day, the Yankees must decide if he’ll be ready for his original timeline or if giving him extra time makes more sense. The plan was already to hold him back for the first turn through the rotation due to a back issue earlier in camp. That schedule had him lined up for Game 6 of the season, but his status remains up in the air.

Aaron Boone acknowledged the uncertainty, explaining that Schmidt’s pitch count is not yet where it needs to be for a full start. “Do we want to keep building him up for another start or two?” Boone said. “That’ll be the question we have to answer because obviously he’s not going to be up to a pitch level. So we’ll make that call here. Does it make the most sense to get him up there and build him there or does it make more sense to give him [more time]?”

With Gerrit Cole out for the season and Luis Gil sidelined until at least July, their rotation depth is already being tested. If Schmidt isn’t fully ready, the Yankees may opt to place him on the injured list to buy him more time. That move could also allow them to carry both Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco, who are competing to replace Cole. Carrasco, on a minor-league deal, has an opt-out approaching, while Warren has been impressive this spring. A short IL stint for Schmidt could give the Yankees more time to evaluate who fits best.

The Yankees’ pitching depth isn’t the only storyline of the week. Max Fried continued his dominant form, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Boston while striking out three without issuing a walk. Aaron Judge, who had been struggling at the plate this spring, crushed a double off the left-center wall for his first extra-base hit after a sluggish 2-for-21 start. Anthony Volpe carried over his momentum from last season with a strong showing at the plate, knocking in multiple runs in the tie against the Red Sox.

Meanwhile, Geoff Hartlieb, competing for a bullpen spot, faltered by allowing a two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida. After a strong start to camp, he has now given up three runs over his last two outings, raising questions about his ability to secure a roster spot. Eric Reyzelman has continued to impress, showcasing the same swing-and-miss ability he had in the minors. He struck out the side in the ninth inning, bringing his total to 11 strikeouts in six spring appearances. While his overall numbers include some rough outings, his ability to generate whiffs makes him an intriguing bullpen option.

For Schmidt, the next few days will be critical. If he continues to progress and increase his workload, there’s still a chance he makes his scheduled start on April 3. However, with the Yankees facing an already depleted rotation, they may err on the side of caution. With Schmidt’s durability a concern after he missed significant time last year due to a ligament strain, the Yankees know they can’t afford to rush him back prematurely. If he can stay healthy, though, he has the potential to be a reliable mid-rotation starter after posting a 2.85 ERA over 16 starts last season.

His situation is part of a broader uncertainty surrounding the Yankees’ pitching staff. Marcus Stroman, who wasn’t even in the team’s plans a few weeks ago, is now locked into the No. 4 spot in the rotation. Carlos Carrasco could open the season as the No. 5 starter, but with an opt-out looming, his future remains unclear. Meanwhile, Will Warren is knocking on the door, making a strong case to stick on the roster.

The Yankees are running out of arms and can’t afford to lose another starter before the season even begins. Schmidt’s status for April 3 remains in flux, but one thing is clear—the team needs him healthy for the long haul. Whether he takes the mound in Arizona or later in April, his ability to contribute will be crucial as the Yankees try to navigate the early weeks of the season without their ace.

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