The New York Yankees starting rotation, which boasts the best ERA in the American League, has suffered a slump that could impact the team into the summer, with pitcher Clarke Schmidt placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right latissimus dorsi injury.
Schmidt's IL placement is backdated to May 27, meaning the right-hander could return on June 11. His return will depend on the severity of the injury. Latissimus dorsi tears can be more serious. As NJ.com's Randy Miller points out, Luis Severino was on the IL for two months in 2022 with a similar injury.
Schmidt is 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings in 11 starts this season. He last pitched on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, allowing one earned run and three hits in five innings. This marked his fourth consecutive outing with two or fewer earned runs, having allowed three earned runs in 24 2/3 innings.
Schmidt's success was part of an MLB-record streak by a Yankees starting pitcher, who entered Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels having pitched 16 straight games in which he pitched at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer.
Entering Thursday's game, Yankees starting pitchers had a 2.69 ERA, just behind the Philadelphia Phillies' 2.68 ERA.
The Yankees' starting rotation was shorthanded entering the 2024 season with Gerrit Cole missing spring training with right elbow inflammation. Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, hopes to return to the roster in June after three recent throwing sessions. If Cole does not encounter any setbacks, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as next week.
If Cole is able to return within the next few weeks, the Yankees wouldn't be faced with a decision on who to remove from the starting rotation as a result of Schmidt's injury, unless manager Aaron Boone decides to go with six players in the short term.
Relief pitcher Cody Morris was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Schmidt on the Yankees' 26-man roster. The right-hander joined the Yankees this season after six years in the Cleveland Guardians organization. In 13 appearances, Morris has a 2.82 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 14 walks in 22 1/3 innings.
