Clarke Schmidt DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) is scheduled to return from the injured list to make his 2025 season debut on either Tuesday, April 15, or Wednesday, April 16, against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium, according to manager Aaron Boone. Schmidt opened the regular season on the IL due to rotator-cuff tendonitis, and he was able to throw 46 pitches during a simulated game on Monday. The 29-year-old will throw again on Saturday as he continues to build up in advance of his regular-season debut. When Schmidt rejoins the Yankees' starting rotation, it will most likely be either youngster Will Warren or veteran Carlos Carrasco who will be booted from the rotation to make room for Schmidt. Before missing three months in 2024 with a lat strain, Schmidt was on the verge of a breakout season, making him worth watching if he's on your league's waiver wire.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) completed a three-inning simulated game on Monday. Schmidt is set to throw again on Saturday. The 29-year-old opened the regular season on the 15-day injured list due to rotator cuff tendinitis. However, Schmidt appears to be increasing his workload and has yet to face any significant setbacks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression as he could embark on a rehab assignment soon, as he was initially targeting a return to the big leagues at the end of April. Last season, Schmidt logged 85 1/3 innings and held a solid 2.85 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied strikeouts at a 26.3 percent rate but held a modest 8.5 percent walk rate. When he is cleared to return, Will Warren will likely shift to a bullpen role or move back to Triple-A to continue his development.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) is targeting a return "in the middle of the month." The Yankees placed Schmidt on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday due to rotator cuff tendinitis. However, it appears Schmidt will not be sidelined for long. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he may only miss a few turns in the rotation. While he is sidelined, Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco will see starting opportunities. Schmidt is eligible to come off the injured list on April 8. Last season, the South Carolina product posted a 2.85 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied 93 punchouts across 85 1/3 innings while holding a modest 8.5 percent walk rate. He also generated an impressive 5.9 percent barrel rate and a .225 xBA. He is worth holding in an IL spot on your roster as he carries decent strikeout upside when he returns to action.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. This was expected, as Schmidt has been dealing with shoulder soreness for the past week of spring training. The injury isn't expected to be serious, and he has recently been throwing live batting practice. Expect it to be a short stay on the injured list until he is fully built up and ready to join the rotation. He posted an excellent 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 93 strikeouts in 85 innings in 2024. His 26.3% strikeout rate and 5.9% barrel rate were both well above-average marks, giving him some sleeper appeal for 2025. He is a solid IL stash for fantasy managers, and he can provide rotation depth down the line.

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list. The 29-year-old has been dealing with shoulder soreness during camp. However, given that he has begun to slowly build up his workload, fantasy managers should not expect him to miss too much time. While Schmidt is sidelined, Carlos Carrasco will likely join the starting rotation. Last season, Schmidt logged 85 1/3 innings of work with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 93 punchouts but held a high 8.5 percent walk rate. He generated a 3.78 xERA with a .225 xBA, which suggests he may face some regression when he returns to the bump in 2025. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Schmidt on an IR spot on their roster, as he should provide stable ratios with decent strikeout production when he returns to the rotation.