Clarke Schmidt Injury Update: Aaron Boone optimistic of pitcher's return by end of August 

Clarke Schmidt threw his live BP on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, and the results felt positive. The New York Yankees starter last played a game in May and has been on IL with a strained lat since. As the Yankees won their first series of August on Sunday, with Schmidt joining the rotation by the month’s end, it could perfect the club’s playoff lineup.

NY Daily News Sports' Gary Phillips shared on X/Twitter about Schmidt’s potential return which could be as early as August:

“Aaron Boone and Clarke Schmidt said it's realistic that the pitcher returns before the end of this month,” Phillips tweeted.

His next rehab session is scheduled on Saturday, as per Phillips, and it will decide whether he’ll have another throwing program or a rehab assignment depending on the results:

“Clarke Schmidt said he feels great after live BP. He'll throw another on Saturday. After that it'll either be a third live BP or a rehab assignment. As far as he knows, he's building up as a starter,” Phillips said in another tweet on Tuesday.

During the Yankees' astonishing 21-7 campaign in May, Schmidt played a crucial role with his 2.52 ERA in 60.2 innings in 11 starts (5-3 record), giving up only 19 runs this season, of which 17 were earned.

In the absence of Gerrit Cole, he led the club against tough rivals. Now that Cole has returned, and if Schmidt can return to his pre-injury form, the Yankees could have a postseason-ready rotation.

Clarke Schmidt is open to any role for Yankees

Despite showing his capability as a lead starter for the Bronx Bombers, Clarke Schmidt said he is open to any role the Yankees want him for, including the bullpen job:

“Clarke Schmidt added that he's open to a bullpen role if needed,” Phillips added.

Although the righty believes he could help the team better as a starter, for the team's sake, Schmidt wouldn’t mind heading to the bullpen:

“That’s probably where I can help this team most,” Schmidt said as per Gary Phillips. “Now, obviously, if they come to me and they say, ‘Hey, we need you in the bullpen’ for whatever reason, I’m here to help the team. I’m not going to say no to anything.”

Schmidt has fair experience in handling mid-inning clunch situations and late-inning finishes in his previous seasons. However, this season he never had to do that since the Yankees needed a starter more than a reliever in the initial months.

Now that, they have a healthy rotation, shared by Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Strowman, Luis Gill and Nestor Cortes, he might join the pen for the time being until they require him as a starter in September and beyond.