The Yankees’ starting rotation just took another body blow, and this one stings. Right-hander Clarke Schmidt has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right lat, a move that leaves the Bronx Bombers scrambling to patch a starting five already running on fumes. Schmidt had been a steady, reliable presence in the middle of the rotation all season. Now he joins Luis Gil on the shelf - Gil’s own lat strain has sidelined him since early April, with no return in sight until after the All-Star break.
That’s two key arms down, and the timing couldn’t be worse. The bullpen has been overworked for weeks, and the front office is clearly feeling the heat. The rotation now leans heavily on Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to eat innings every fifth day, while the back end becomes a revolving door of spot starters and long relievers. For a team with World Series aspirations - and a fan base that expects nothing less - this isn’t the kind of depth test anyone wanted in late August.
The good news? The Yankees aren’t sitting idle. They’ve already made a move to add proven veteran depth - and it’s a name that brings serious late-inning juice, even at this stage of the season. But first, let’s break down exactly what Schmidt’s absence means for the rotation’s math.
📊 Schmidt had posted a 3.65 ERA across 24 starts in 2026 - His consistency was the glue holding the middle of the rotation together before this lat strain.
Former All-Star Craig Kimbrel Signs with Yankees
In a move that flew under the radar back in April but could pay major October dividends, the Yankees signed former All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract. The 37-year-old was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he’s spent the summer methodically working his way back into form. Through his most recent stretch, Kimbrel has posted a 3.86 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 4.2 innings across five outings. Solid numbers, sure. But the real story is the stuff.
Kimbrel’s velocity has ticked back up into the mid-90s, and his signature knee-buckling curveball is biting again. The Yankees have been patient, letting him build stamina and refine his command in Scranton before pulling the trigger on a call-up. But make no mistake: this is a move designed for the postseason. A healthy Kimbrel gives the Yankees a high-leverage weapon who’s closed out 440+ games in his career and isn’t afraid of the big moment.
For a bullpen that has leaned heavily on Luke Weaver and Ian Hamilton down the stretch, adding a future Hall of Famer with Kimbrel’s resume is a low-risk, high-reward gamble. The Yankees aren’t rushing him - they’re sharpening the blade for the stretch run. And with Schmidt now out, that blade might get pulled from the sheath sooner rather than later.
| Pitcher | Injury | IL Placement | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke Schmidt | Right lat strain | 15-day (Aug 26) | Late September |
| Luis Gil | Right lat strain | 60-day (since April) | Post-All-Star Break |
📊 440+ career saves for Craig Kimbrel - That’s top-five all-time among active closers, and the Yankees are betting he’s got one more October run in him.
What This Means for the Yankees’ Pen and Rotation
Here’s the reality check: Schmidt’s absence isn’t just about the next two weeks. Lat strains are tricky, and the Yankees are bracing for at least a month without him - which means the rotation needs someone to step up, and the bullpen needs to absorb more innings in the meantime. That’s where Kimbrel’s eventual arrival becomes critical.
If Kimbrel can slot into the seventh or eighth inning role, it pushes everyone else down a peg. Suddenly, the Yankees have a bridge to Clay Holmes that doesn’t require holding your breath every time the ball leaves the starter’s hand. It also gives manager Aaron Boone flexibility to let Cole and Rodón go deeper into games without panic - knowing the back end has a proven arm waiting.
