The first domino to fall in the rash of injuries that have hit the Yankees' starting rotation this season came when Clark Schmidt went on the disabled list more than three months ago.
If not for a lat injury, the 28-year-old would have been on track for a breakout season.
Schmidt will take the mound Friday against the Red Sox in his second start since late May.
He will face right-hander Tanner Hack in the second of four games in the Bronx.
Red Sox vs Yankees odds
| team | Money Line | Execution Line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | +132 | +1.5 (-160) | o8.5 (-105) |
| Yankees | -156 | -1.5 (+132) | u8.5 (-115) |
Red Sox vs Yankees player props
Prior to his injury, Schmidt displayed an impressive pitch lineup that centered around a cutter that carried a strikeout rate of over 32 percent.
Schmidt, who is averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings in 2024, is also the Yankees' most effective starter at neutralizing left-handed hitters.
The fifth-year veteran returned from rehab last week and showed no signs of slowing in a showdown against the Cubs, especially against lefties.
Manager Aaron Boone used Schmidt in 4 2/3 innings, and while using a number of cutters and curveballs that matched his spring velocity, Schmidt kept the opposing team scoreless.
He struck out just two for that effort, but he will face a Red Sox starter lineup that features six left-handed batters on Friday.
Boston has built a solid hitting lineup thanks to the contributions of the incredible power hitters Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, but a host of other deficiencies have left them four games out of a wild-card spot.
Pitching woes aside, Boston's offense has been inconsistent, taking big swings and going awry in key pitching matchups, leading to the third-highest strikeout total in baseball.
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Schmidt had hit Friday's prop line of 5.5 strikeouts in eight of his 12 starts this season and eight of his last nine starts before the injury, including five in a row.
He's striking out two more batters per nine innings at Yankee Stadium than on the road, so look for a strong return in the Bronx as Schmidt settles in for the postseason.
Play: Clark Schmidt strikes out 5.5 or more (-158, FanDuel)
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Shawn Trepedi is responsible for predicting the NFL, NHL, MLB, and college football for the New York Post. He focuses primarily on making predictions that reflect market value and tracking trends to mitigate risk.
