CLEVELAND — Friday’s washout cleared the way for Cody Poteet to make his Yankees debut on Saturday.
After Friday’s series opener was postponed due to inclement weather, the Yankees will call up Poteet from Triple-A to start Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
Clark Schmidt, who was scheduled to pitch on Friday, will start Saturday’s Game 1, with the game starting at 12:10 p.m. and the nightcap set for 6:10 p.m.
Lewis Gil was originally scheduled to start Saturday, but the Yankees will push him back because they have six games in five days and need a spot starter at some point.
Poteet, 29, last pitched in the majors with the Marlins in 2022 and underwent Tommy John surgery in August of that year.
He was sidelined until September of last year, then returned to pitch in one game with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate.
After trading away much of their pitching staff in the Juan Soto deal, the Yankees signed Potito to a major league contract in January to strengthen their starting pitching depth.
The right-handed pitcher has been training at Eric Cressey’s facility in Florida, which gave the Yankees familiarity with him.
After flashing his potential in major league spring training, he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and posted a 2.16 and 8 ERA in two starts, despite a disappointing performance against the Tigers. He had 12 strikeouts at bat. /₃innings.
He threw 70 pitches in his last start Sunday, so he should be able to throw about 80 pitches for the Yankees on Saturday.
Poteet was scheduled to start for the RailRiders on Sunday, but the Yankees don’t have to make a move to add him to the roster, as he will likely serve as the 27th man in the Yankees’ doubleheader.
Clayton Beater, who was scheduled to start at SWB on Saturday, was another candidate to be recalled as a spot starter.
