Schmidt feels 'really good' despite being scratched with sore shoulder

New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays due to a sore shoulder.

However, it appears that Schmidt managed to avoid any serious injury. He said he felt "really good" following Monday's 24-pitch bullpen session and still expects to make his first start of the regular season on schedule, according to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record.

Due to the shoulder issue and a stiff back earlier in March, New York is targeting the sixth game of the season - April 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks - for Schmidt's 2025 debut, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported Sunday.

Schmidt is expected to stay back in Florida and keep building his stamina before his first start, according to Hoch. The Yankees have two off days within the first six days of their season, allowing them to be flexible with their early rotation plans.

The Yankees have been battered by injuries to the rotation this spring with Gerrit Cole undergoing season-ending elbow surgery and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil sidelined with a strained lat.

Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Schmidt isn't scheduled to undergo any tests on his shoulder.

"With some of the attrition we've had, it's not something we want to push,” Boone said Sunday, per Hoch. "He's just not bouncing back as well as he wanted to."

Schmidt posted a 2.85 ERA and 9.81 K/9 and amassed 1.7 fWAR in 16 starts for the Yankees in 2024.

The 29-year-old will be part of a Yankees rotation that's also expected to include Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren.