Yankees Place Clarke Schmidt on IL as October Panic Sets In

Just when you thought the New York Yankees were safely coasting into October, the injury bug decided to take one last massive bite out of the Bronx. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Clarke Schmidt is officially heading to the injured list, turning what was supposed to be a minor cramping issue into a full-blown rotation crisis.

Losing a starting pitcher in late September is the baseball equivalent of your car's check engine light flashing on the highway right before a cross-country road trip. You can probably still drive, but every bump in the road is going to induce a minor panic attack.

"MLB Trade Rumors reported the official IL placement."

This move stings even more because the Yankees are already operating a triage center. Aaron Judge is reportedly dealing with a moderate calf strain that will likely keep him out of the Wild Card Series. Taking your best hitter and a reliable arm out of the mix days before the postseason is not exactly the recipe for a deep run.

New York is wrapping up a series with the Tampa Bay Rays before the Baltimore Orioles come to town this weekend. For anyone looking at the futures market, the Yankees' odds to survive the first round just got a lot murkier. You cannot simply replace Schmidt's innings on a whim, especially when the bullpen is already bracing for high-leverage October baseball.

The front office now has to scramble to patch the rotation before the playoffs officially kick off. If Schmidt cannot make a miraculous recovery and Judge is stuck watching from the dugout, the Yankees are going to need some unexpected heroes to step up, or it is going to be a very short, very loud winter in New York.