Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced Saturday that pitcher Clarke Schmidt will begin the season on the injured list after dealing with a shoulder injury this spring, allowing Carlos Carrasco to earn a spot on the roster as a non-roster invitee to spring training.
Schmidt is the third projected Yankees starter who will be unavailable for Opening Day on Thursday, joining Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Luis Gil (lat). Cole is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, while Gil is expected to miss at least the first two months.
The 29-year-old Schmidt, who posted a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts last season, is not expected to be sidelined for long. His minor shoulder issue surfaced earlier this month, disrupting his ability to build up his pitch count, though he has stated he is healthy.
He has only appeared in one game this spring, throwing 38 pitches over 1⅔ innings, and recently threw 32 pitches in a two-inning live batting practice session. The Yankees aim for him to reach 70-80 pitches before making a regular-season start.
“He just hasn’t had a spring training yet,” Cashman said. “He’s certainly going in the right direction.”
Carrasco, 38, a cancer survivor, has struggled in recent seasons with a 6.18 ERA over 41 starts. However, he has impressed this spring, recording a 1.69 ERA across 16 innings in five appearances.
“He’s had a good camp, and obviously he’s earned the right to come north with us,” Cashman said.
Rookie Will Warren is the frontrunner for the Yankees’ final rotation spot, though Cashman did not confirm if the former top prospect would make the roster.
Warren, 25, struggled in his MLB debut last season, surrendering 27 runs (26 earned) in 22⅔ innings across six games (five starts). However, the team has been encouraged by his spring performance, where he has posted a 4.19 ERA in 19⅓ innings over six outings.
Cashman also revealed that right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton will start the season on the injured list. Hamilton, 29, made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday, allowing a run on three hits in one inning after being sidelined by an infection.
