The New York Yankees made a major move on their pitching corps before this Thursday's game, placing the right Clarke Schmidt on the 15-day injured list and calling the reliever again Bradley Hanner From Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Schmidt was sent to the injured list due to right bicep neuritis. The movement has retroactive effect to September 21, a decision that comes at a particularly delicate moment for New York due to the proximity of the Wild Card series.
The injury represents another setback for a pitching body that the Yankees continue to evaluate while defining the pieces that will be available for October.
Clarke Schmidt is out of action again
Schmidt had presented discomfort in his right arm over the weekend. The pitcher felt cramps in his bicep as he warmed up to take over against Arizona and was finally not used in that match.
At that time, both Schmidt and Aaron Boone showed some peace of mind and the situation was initially handled with caution. However, the Yankees decided to place the right-hander on the injured list after continuing to assess the annoyance.
The diagnosis announced by the team is neuritis in the right bicep, an inflammation or irritation related to a nerve in that area of the arm.
The situation becomes more important due to Schmidt's recent history. The right-hander had just returned to the Major Leagues after recovering from Tommy John surgery and had barely made an appearance during the 2026 regular season.
Schmidt will not be available for the Wild Card
Entry to the injured list also directly affects the Yankees' options for the first round of the postseason.
As it is a 15-day list with retroactive effect as of September 21, Schmidt cannot be activated in time for the Wild Card series. New York will have to prepare that round without having the right within its body of pitchers.
Schmidt was considered an interesting option to work as a reliever during October after returning from a long rehabilitation. Its ability to launch multiple tickets could offer Boone an additional alternative in a short series, especially behind the openers.
Now the Yankees will have to rearrange that part of the bullpen and evaluate which arms can occupy that space during the postseason.
Bradley Hanner gets another chance with the Yankees
To take the place of Schmidt on the active roster, New York called Bradley Hanner right from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Hanner has had an outstanding minor league season. In 46 appearances with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during 2026, he scores a 6-3 record, a 2.35 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.
The reliever already had opportunities with the Yankees this season. In four major league appearances he has 5.1 innings and seven strikeouts, although he allowed seven runs during that period.
Hanner had been sent back to Triple-A on September 16, but now he returns to the bullpen in one of the most important moments of the season.
The Yankees continue to adjust their pitching before October
Schmidt's loss forces New York to continue making adjustments as the start of the playoffs is approaching.
The Yankees have several options to build their postseason pitcher body, but losing an arm capable of working more than one entry reduces some of the flexibility Boone hoped to have available.
Hanner will now have another chance to prove that he can help the team during the last regular season games. Its performance could become a factor to consider while New York has finished defining which relievers will be part of its October plans.
For now, Schmidt's situation becomes a new injury that the Yankees will have to handle while preparing a postseason roster that continues to undergo changes in the final days of the regular calendar.