If anyone understands what Luis Gil might be thinking about being in the bullpen (at least for the ALDS), it’s Clarke Schmidt, whose first extended big-league action came as a reliever in 2022. He made three appearances that postseason and it didn’t go great – he allowed three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings – but that gave him lessons he carried into 2023 as part of the rotation, and then this year.
“I feel like a different player and person than who I was back then. You don’t know what to expect going into your first playoff, and I was in situations I wasn’t typically used to, so it was a perfect storm of things that catch you off guard,” Schmidt said Tuesday. “Now I just feel comfortable with myself and who I am as a pitcher, and how I’m trying to get guys out. I’ve found my identity as a pitcher, and in these playoff situations, if you let the emotions overwhelm you, it can throw you off, so now I feel very calm and confident in what I’m trying to do out there. It’s showed throughout this year, and I’m just trying to treat it like another game. You have to try to control the energy as much as you can and remain calm.”
That’s what Schmidt will do as he starts a pivotal ALDS Game 3 tonight in Kansas City, looking to put the Yankees one win away from the ALCS.
Neither he nor the Yankees knew if he would be in this position if they were when, back around Memorial Day, Schmidt went out with a lat strain that threatened what was a breakout his season. Thankfully, he returned in September and made five starts, and while they had mixed results, it gave him the confidence to know that what he had in the first two months was still there.
“Obviously the stuff was really good, but I was happy with command and location, getting to areas well and repeating mechanics,” Schmidt said. “Sometimes you can lose that in a long layoff, but it was really sharp. Just going to the minors (to rehab), it felt like a good reset to tweak and clean up some things. You don’t often get that in a season, so I tried to utilize that time to the best of my ability, and really happy how it came out.”
To be fair, though, his skipper has known it’s been there since his first big-league action.
“I go back to the COVID year and our second spring training up here; he had all the stuff, but he hadn’t refined it yet. He had nasty stuff, but would lose command or make a mistake, but it’s been a gradual progression for him getting better every year,” Aaron Boone said. “He became a big part of our bullpen in 2022, and in 2023, when he went in the rotation full time, he took some lumps early but had a strong season. I think he tired a little bit at the back end, but you saw the emergence of a really good starter in this league – and this year it’s gone to another level. The cutter he’s worked on has become a real staple for him, but he’s got all the weapons. He has everything that can beat you with really good stuff, and the confidence has always been there. He loves pitching and all that goes into that, from the lab to the weight room, and he’s super competitive.”
And, perhaps, has a big endorsement from another legendary Yankees lefty who was aces in October.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Andy (Pettitte) and the knowledge and advice he’s given me. We’ve formed a really good relationship, and he’s helped me immensely with mentality, pitch selection, sequencing…so many things,” Schmidt said. “He’s been in these situations so many times, so many playoff atmospheres, and he had the pitch package where he tried to get you out in a million ways, so someone you can really learn from. One of my idols growing up, somebody who turned it on when it mattered most. I want to have that same type of legacy, so what better person to learn from than him? I’ve spent a lot of time watching playoff starts of his, and really thankful to have him as a mentor.”