Clarke Schmidt turns in ‘good night’ in return as importance to Yankees grows

Wednesday night brought some encouraging signs for a Yankees rotation that desperately needs it. Though it wasn’t the cleanest start from Clarke Schmidt, the outing stretched longer than expected — across 73 pitches — and it resulted in a series victory after the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Royals in The Bronx. Schmidt allowed four hits and three earned runs across 5 2/3 innings.

He finished with two strikeouts and two walks. His return, following right rotator cuff tendinitis that sidelined him to start the season, was vital for the Yankees, who are navigating without Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and Marcus Stroman. “In the first, he’s up over 20 [pitches] so you’re like, you kinda go into the night, hopefully you get four [innings],” manager Aaron Boone said after the win.



“A couple times through, maybe. For him to almost get through six, to be that efficient and keep us right there, I thought it was a good night for him and another good step back to being all the way back for him. But really excited he is back in the rotation.

” Schmidt allowed a run off of a single in an “amped up” first inning, as he described it, and trouble later came in the top of the fifth, when the Royals’ Kyle Isbel hit a triple to tie the game 3-3. Still, the 2017 first-round pick didn’t think he was going to get nearly six innings out of his day. “Very aggressive from them tonight,” Schmidt said.

“My mentality going into it was to fill up the strike zone and go out there and attack and see how deep we can go. Obviously, it worked out for the best because they were swinging a lot.” The righty’s first start also came on a day that saw another blow to the depleted rotation.

Gil, who was supposed to start his throwing program Wednesday, had to delay it due to the slow healing process of his strained right lat. It likely means his return is pushed back until July. In just a matter of hours before first pitch, Schmidt’s importance to the Yankees hit a new high.

It’s something he believes he is ready for — a bigger role. “Throughout the years, I feel like I know my pitch package better,” Schmidt said. “When I first went out there when I was younger, it was like just going out there and just trying to throw your best stuff and now I’m reading swings, I’m learning.

It’s more pitch to pitch and you’re just a lot more calm. So, I feel more equipped as far as that goes, and obviously the work that I put in.”.