The New York Yankees are set to receive crucial help for their starting rotation, and the timing couldn’t be better. After a 7–5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone shared a promising update on Clarke Schmidt, one of the key pitchers for 2025. Schmidt, who began the season on the injured list, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Double-A and could return to the roster as early as April 12 or 13. His return will help stabilize a rotation that currently relies on a mix of young talent and veteran options.
In the meantime, rookies Will Warren and veteran Carlos Carrasco are filling the back-end of the rotation. Warren, who had an inconsistent spring, made his regular season debut on Tuesday and showed promise. He gave up just one hit and two earned runs over five innings, though he walked four batters. His command will be key to determining whether he sticks in the rotation. Carrasco, at 37 years old, had a solid spring and will likely get more opportunities to prove himself. If Schmidt returns healthy, Carrasco might move to a bullpen or long-relief role to conserve his arm.
Schmidt’s return brings more than just another arm to the rotation—it adds stability and depth. At 29, Schmidt is already a proven asset. Last year, he posted a 2.85 ERA in just 85.1 innings, striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. His ability to keep runners stranded and induce ground balls makes him a valuable asset for a team that needs to control the run game early in the season. Once Schmidt is back to full strength, the Yankees can ease Warren’s workload or use Carrasco in more favorable bullpen matchups. It’s a welcome dilemma for a rotation that has been navigating challenges since the loss of Gerrit Cole.
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