The New York Yankees are heading into the Subway Series against the Mets with a gut punch they didn’t see coming.
Right-hander Clarke Schmidt, one of the Yankees’ brightest pitching revelations this season, has landed on the 15-day injured list.
He was removed after just three innings in Thursday’s game, citing right forearm tightness—an ominous phrase for any pitcher, let alone one thriving.
For a team that already lost Gerrit Cole for the entire year and suffered many other pitching injuries, Schmidt’s situation threatens to again test New York’s pitching depth.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. With momentum stalling and the trade deadline looming, this isn’t just a setback—it’s a stress test.
Schmidt Had Quietly Become One of the Yankees’ Most Reliable Arms
Before this week’s news, Clarke Schmidt had been quietly carrying weight in a rotation riddled with injuries and uncertainty.
His 3.32 ERA across 14 starts didn’t just plug holes—it stood as proof he’d grown from spot-starter to trusted arm.
Schmidt started the season on the injured list due to shoulder tightness but came back strong, stringing together quality outings.
He was commanding the strike zone, mixing pitches well, and showing poise when the Yankees needed it most this summer.
That transformation made Schmidt one of the few steady presences in a rotation missing its ace and struggling for rhythm.
The Forearm Tightness Raises Familiar and Unsettling Red Flags
Forearm tightness is rarely just a sore muscle—it’s often a precursor to something more serious, sometimes even elbow-related.
While Schmidt said this wasn’t a totally new issue, he felt discomfort much earlier than he usually does, raising concern.
The Yankees are understandably cautious, and Schmidt is scheduled for an MRI to assess the full scope of the problem.
The hope, of course, is that it’s minor inflammation—but even that could sideline him for several turns through the rotation.
Given how fragile pitching depth can be, especially in July, the Yankees can’t afford to take this injury lightly.
The Yankees Turn to Depth—But There’s a Steep Drop-Off
To respond, the Yankees recalled Scott Effross and Jayvien Sandridge from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Friday’s game.
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…— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 4, 2025
Effross, returning from injury himself, is a known bullpen option—but not someone built to carry starter innings.
Sandridge brings a lefty arm into the mix, but he’s untested and more of a bullpen patch than a long-term rotation fix.
Neither of them replaces what Schmidt was giving the team every five days, especially in tough AL East matchups.
It’s like replacing a missing gear in a machine with duct tape—fine in a pinch, but bound to buckle under pressure.
Rotation Uncertainty Grows Just as the Subway Series Heats Up
Marcus Stroman will take the mound Friday against the Mets, but he is not yet in a spot in which Yankees fans can trust him.
His recent injury and past inconsistencies have put pressure on the bullpen, which now faces more stress without Schmidt’s innings every fifth day.
Justin Hagenman, a Mets right-hander, will oppose Stroman—making the matchup less about star power and more about execution.
While the fans may crave a battle of aces, this feels more like a game of who blinks first on the mound.
And for the Yankees, the bigger concern is what happens after the Subway Series, especially if Schmidt’s absence lingers.
A Crucial Stretch Ahead—and a Crucial Arm Now Missing
With the trade deadline approaching, Schmidt’s injury could force GM Brian Cashman to revisit the pitching market quickly.
Even if the MRI brings good news, the Yankees now have clear incentive to seek starting pitching reinforcements in July.
They’ve leaned heavily on their bullpen already—and asking it to carry even more weight through summer is a dangerous ask.
The Yankees had started dreaming of October again. But without Clarke Schmidt, even getting there just got a little harder.
READ MORE: Yankees demote strikeout-centric relief arm after just one appearance
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