PHOENIX – Clarke Schmidt was preparing to enter in the sixth inning on Sunday, but the Yankees' right-hander cut short his warmups after experiencing what he described as a “cramping” sensation localized near his right biceps.
“Nothing structural, it was more precautionary,” Schmidt said after the club’s 8-4 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “Given the circumstance coming back from surgery, I don’t want to push through anything. All the testing was fine – nothing with the shoulder, nothing with the elbow.”
Schmidt has made one appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery, recording two outs on Sept. 16 at Minnesota. Manager Aaron Boone said Schmidt “checked out pretty well afterward in all the strength tests,” and he will be examined by a team physician when the team returns to New York.
“I’m hoping it’s not a big deal,” Boone said. “But it was enough to have him not go into the game. So we’ll see what we have there.”
Schmidt warmed up late in Saturday’s 5-3 loss at Arizona, but Boone bypassed him in favor of Michael Fulmer, who surrendered Pavin Smith’s walk-off two-run homer.
“Tie game in the ninth, he hasn’t been in those spots,” Boone said. “I felt like Fulmer has been in those spots and thrown the ball really well for us. Smith got him there.”
Regardless, the Yankees intend to use Schmidt as one of their bullpen options for the postseason – a plan that does not appear to have been altered by Sunday’s developments.
“It seems like a best-case scenario right now, so I’m thankful for that,” Schmidt said. “Obviously, it’s very frustrating. I want to be out there competing, but in the grand scheme of things, I’ll be out there soon.”