With the Yankees returning to the postseason, Clarke Schmidt knows there’s a chance he may return to the bullpen.
The right-hander hasn’t been a regular reliever since 2022, but the Yankees, slated for a first-round bye, won’t need a full rotation in the five-game American League Division Series. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón locks for the postseason rotation and Marcus Stroman already bumped to the bullpen, that likely leaves one spot for Schmidt and Luis Gil — Nestor Cortes hit the injured list with a flexor strain on Wednesday — at least in the ALDS.
“However they need me, I’ll be ready to go,” Schmidt said after starting Tuesday night — and before news of Cortes’ injury.
Schmidt spoke after totaling 5.1 innings, four hits, three earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts in a 5-3 loss to the Orioles. He was far from perfect, but he demonstrated the season-long consistency that could make him valuable in October.
Schmidt, limited to 15 starts by a lat strain, hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a game all season. He’s also completed at least five innings in all but two of his starts while leading the Yankees’ rotation with a 2.55 ERA.
Gil, meanwhile, offers higher upside — and more risk — with his power arsenal and iffy command. The Rookie of the Year contender has never pitched out of the bullpen in the majors.
Asked if the Yankees have indicated how they’ll use him in the playoffs, Schmidt said “no.”
“That’s for them to decide,” he said, but he understands that a tough decision is coming because “we have a very talented pitching staff top to bottom.”
“So just to be able to be on the roster and be able to wear this uniform in the playoffs is an honor to me,” Schmidt continued. “So whatever the role is, however I can help them win, whether it’s me or somebody else, when the postseason comes around, it’s all hands on deck. It’s whatever you need from each individual. We’ll all be ready.”
