Yankees: James Paxton heading for MRI means it’s Clarke Schmidt time

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 15: James Paxton #65 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 15, 2020 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 11-5. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 15: James Paxton #65 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 15, 2020 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 11-5. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

It’s time to think positively. Yankees P James Paxton is going for an MRI, so let’s promote Clarke Schmidt.

If the injuries aren’t going to stop, the baseball gods have left New York Yankees fans with no choice: it’s time to look at the bright side.

After Gleyber Torres left Thursday’s contest with what the team is calling a hamstring issue, which he’ll undergo an MRI for, it was revealed after the game that James Paxton will get an MRI on his elbow after experiencing discomfort in the area.

The rainstorm won’t stop. We can’t control it. But we can control our thought process. It’s sickening to see Paxton, who already battled back from back surgery, already be dealing with an issue as grave as this, but Yankees fans, on top of wishing the Big Maple well, need to focus elsewhere. Let’s get Clarke Schmidt to the bigs!

We’re not sure the last time an elbow MRI yielded good news, but we’ll hope for the best. Paxton was finally turning things around after his first two horrible outings and now this adds yet another mental AND physical obstacle to his trying season.

With the rotation potentially taking another colossal hit, the only move is to promote Schmidt, who was sent to the Alternate Site in a move right before the season started that, rightfully so, infuriated fans. Schmidt looked tremendous in spring training and summer camp and the Yankees needed all the pitching help they could get.

It’s depressing that his promotion has to happen under these circumstances, but this is the only sustainable move if the Yankees want to keep their rotation afloat and shake off getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Schmidt, quite frankly, should’ve already been the Yankees’ No. 5 starter after all the rotation has dealt with in the early going. Michael King didn’t get a spot in the rotation, JA Happ is hardly a viable option at this point (though his outing against the Red Sox was solid), and none of the spot starts made this year really turned out well.

Giving Schmidt the call would inject some much-needed life into a roster that’s once again becoming decimated by injuries. It probably won’t stop here, either, so every roster move from this point forward needs to make an impact.