Yankees place Clarke Schmidt on 15-day IL

Clarke Schmidt is back on the shelf with another injury.

The Yankees announced Thursday afternoon that the righty is being placed on the 15-day IL with right bicep neuritis, retroactive to Sept. 21. Schmidt had hoped to throw on Thursday, but that was nixed as his arm discomfort lingered. He was warming up in the bullpen in Sunday's series finale against the Diamondbacks, but cut it short due to what he described as "bicep cramps." Schmidt told reporters after the game that it was a precautionary measure.

Schmidt played catch on Tuesday and Wednesday as he tried to shake the bicep troubles, but it did not improve, meaning he will not be an option for the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, which begins on Tuesday night.

Schmidt had recently returned from Tommy John surgery, and will finish the regular season having made just one appearance in relief, tossing 0.2 innings.

The injury to Schmidt is the latest blow for a Yankee team counting on injured pitchers to return and give their beleaguered bullpen a boost for the postseason. Ryan Weathers, who was having a splendid season before landing on the IL, was seen as a good bet to return in time to make an impact in relief come October, but he is no longer expected to be ready before the end of the regular season, making it hard to imagine he will be on the Wild Card Series roster. Brent Headrick has looked more human of late as his heavy workload continues, and Fernando Cruz is still trying to make his way back from a partially torn UCL.