Clarke Schmidt dazzles in return to help Yankees shut out Cubs with rotation decisions looming

CHICAGO — That rotation decision is not getting any easier for the Yankees.

For the second straight day, a starter returned from the injured list to turn in a scoreless outing.

After Luis Gil tossed six innings on Friday, Clarke Schmidt picked up where he left off and delivered 4 ²/₃ shutout innings on a pitch count to help send the Yankees to a 2-0 win over the Cubs on Saturday afternoon at a crisp Wrigley Field.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
New York Yankees relief pitcher Nestor Cortes (65) celebrates with catcher Austin Wells (28) teams win against the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Nestor Cortes, squeezed out of the rotation (for one turn, at least for now), piggybacked Schmidt and followed with a dominant 4 ¹/₃ innings to finish off the game.

Aaron Boone had Luke Weaver warming for a potential second straight save, but stuck with the cruising Cortes and was rewarded for it.

The Yankees (82-60) clinched the series victory after dropping their last three and will have a chance to sweep the Cubs (72-70) on Sunday with Gerrit Cole on the mound.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) hits an RBI-ground out against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Schmidt, making his first start since May 26 (he was diagnosed with a strained lat a few days later), scattered four hits and one walk while striking out a pair across 75 pitches.

He had made three rehab starts but did not build his pitch count all the way back, which is why the Yankees picked Saturday as the day to have Cortes pitch in relief.

At the time he landed on the injured list, Schmidt had pitched to a 2.82 ERA across his first 11 starts of the season.

Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees attempts a catch on the ball hit by Patrick Wisdom of the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on September 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) reacts in the dugout after leaving a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

If the Yankees are getting that pitcher back, it will give them another strong option to start playoff-level games down the stretch and potentially in October.

But at some point, they will have to make a decision about who gets dropped from the rotation.

Cortes is expected to start later this week in the series against the Red Sox (which starts on Thursday in The Bronx), as the Yankees use a six-man rotation one time through.

But that will be trimmed down to five by the following week, with the odd man out expected to move to the bullpen.

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