Schmidt gets his first start today with eyes on playoff roster
Clarke Schmidt did not come here for participation trophies. The confident 24-year-old announced when he arrived at summer training camp that he was here to make the major league roster. Sunday, when he makes his first major league start, he expects to be auditioning for a spot on the playoff roster.
“One hundred percent I think that if you have any type of competitive nature, obviously, that’s going to be on your mind,” Schmidt said. “I think that I know that I can help this team, whether that’s out of the bullpen or starting. I know that I have the ability to get outs, important outs. So obviously, this is a big opportunity for me going out there [Sunday].”
Schmidt made his major league debut and his first two big league appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander was sent back to Scranton to stretch out and give him a chance to actually do what he is expected to do.
And Aaron Boone said there is a chance that Schmidt will be pitching for the Yan
kees in the playoffs.
“Sure, there’s a chance,” the Yankees manager said before Saturday’s game against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium. “He’s part of our 40 [man player pool in the playoff bubble]. And obviously we think he’s going to be a special pitcher in this league and looking forward to him going out there [Sunday] and hopefully setting a good tone for us in the final regular season game.
“But he has all the equipment to be really good even at this point in his career.”
Schmidt and rookie righty Deivi Garcia could both be getting impactful outs for the Yankees next week. The expanded playoffs, to make up for the coronavirus pandemicshortened 60-game MLB season, comes with no off days until the World Series. That means teams will bulk up on their pitching.
Schmidt is very aware of that opportunity.
“Obviously, I think that I’m in a good position to be able to help this team. I think that with the expanded rosters and the no off days, I think that leaves a lot of opportunities for pitchers to be on this roster,” Schmidt said. “And I think that I can obviously help. So I’m excited to go out tomorrow and be able to make a lasting impression for sure.”
The Yankees put Schmidt in a tough spot this season calling on him in the middle of an inning with runners on base. That’s something he had never done professionally.
He allowed two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings against the Orioles. Schmidt seemed to adapt quickly though. The next time out, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Blue Jays.
WHO’S NEXT?
Garcia gave the Yankees something to think about Saturday. If they need a third starter in the best-of-three game Wild Card round, the 21-year old rookie has pitched well enough to put his name in the mix. So too has veteran lefty J.A. Happ and rookie
Schmidt said that he sees Sunday’s start as an audition to get into that mix.
But Boone was not tipping his hand on the decision after Garcia pitched 6.2 strong innings in the Yankees 11-4 win over the Marlins.
“No, we’ll talk that over,” Boone said and added. “Look, I mean, the opponent will come into these decisions. I mean, both guys are gonna play a significant role for us in the playoffs. And, you know, we expect to go deep in this thing and both guys are going to start games for us.”
GET READY TO CELEBRATE
DJ LeMahieu could be the first man to win the batting title in both the American and National League in baseball’s modern era on Sunday. The Yankees versatile infielder, whose ability to hit consistently earned him the nickname “The Machine,” finished play on Saturday hitting .359, leading the majors.
Luke Voit’s 22nd home run put more distance between him and the rest of the major league sluggers. Jose Abreu went into the White Sox’s game Saturday night three behind Voit and Mike Trout, Jose Ramirez and Marcel Ozuna were five back. Voit would become the first Yankee since Alex Rodriguez in 2007 when he finished with the most home runs in baseball.