The New York Yankees are seated comfortably at the top of AL-East with a 76-53 record and own a 1.5 game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. With five weeks left on the season, the Bronx Bombers are expected to push hard to win the division and reclaim AL-East supremacy.
However, to achieve the far fetched target, the New York Yankees will require a healthy and potent roster at their helm. Currently, a few quality players are on IL, with two of them have already begun rehab assignments. In an ideal world, the Bombers could see an upgrade in their depleted starting rotation depth sooner than later.
Clarke Schmidt Pitches 3.2 Innings In Rehab Start In Double-A
New York Yankees promising starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt was sidelined with lat strain in May and has been in a tiresome rehabilitation program ever since. He was pitching 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts before the injury struck him. However, after multiple live sessions, Schmidt finally commenced his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset Patriots on Friday. He pitched 3.2 innings and allowed a solo home run before striking out 6 hitters on 48 pitches. The pitcher was fired up after achieving the desired command and stability in his first start after a prolonged layoff. “I’m happy with the breaking ball shapes. I just felt very consistent,” Schmidt said. Having said that, Clarke Schmidt will require at least two more rehab outings to be considered for reinstatement.
On the other hand, New York Yankees veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo was also accompanying Clarke Schmidt in the rehab assignment. Ailing from an arm fracture, Rizzo went hitless on Friday but did record two walks and scored a run. Skipper Aaron Boone shared an update on Rizzo’s recovery and revealed that the infielder will play as DH for at least four games before getting a chance to explore the infield. His return timeline is set for the first week of September. On the other hand, relief pitcher Lou Trivino, recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched a 1-2-3 inning of relief in his fourth rehab outing for Somerset. Additionally, infielder Jon Berti, who witnessed a setback in his rehab earlier, is set to feature in the Double-A lineup on Saturday in what will be his first rehab game after a three-month-long injury layoff.
Yankees Reinstate Jazz Chisholm Jr. from IL
In other news, the New York Yankees reinstated infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr from 10-day IL on Friday. Jazz was suffering from an elbow UCL injury. But surprisingly, recovered from the setback in just 10 days. Chisholm had hit seven home runs in 14 games before entering IL and is expected to pick up from where he left off.
That being said, while Jazz Chisholm marked his return on the Yankees roster quicker than earlier antiquated, veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu is under threat of an IL stint. LeMahieu was apparently hit on the face by a throw during batting practice. DJ was accordingly scratched off the lineup against Rockies on Friday with Ben Rice starting at first base.
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