Clarke Schmidt’s presence more vital to Yankees than ever

It is Game 18. A Wednesday night against the Royals. And not the George Brett Royals who the Yankees loathed in the way back. 

Yet, Game 18 will have resonance beyond the monotony of the long season. Maybe more than that. It is a landmark for the 2025 Yankees to finally be adding a starter rather than losing one.

Clarke Schmidt went down in spring training with rotator cuff tendinitis, leaving the Yankees without him, Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil. Cole, after needing Tommy John surgery, is not returning this season. Gil, out with a strained lat, is unlikely to be back before June. 

So Schmidt’s return Wednesday is consequential. The Yankees have been in survive-and-advance mode with their rotation. They were in first place in the AL East when play began Tuesday, mainly in spite of their starters. They have needed their power bats to cover for the rotation while Aaron Boone has had to juggle not to overtax his pen early in a haze of short starts.