Aaron Boone's Game 3 announcement shows Yankees are in big trouble with pitching plan

In truly classic fashion, the New York Yankees got two of the worst outings possible from their best starting pitchers. Desperately needing length in either Game 1 or Game 2, the Yanks got 8 2/3 combined innings from Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. It's really unbelievable.

The duo surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on a ridiculous 14 hits and two walks. As a result, manager Aaron Boone was forced to go to the bullpen early, which shouldn't have been the case both nights.

Speaking of Boone, on Monday before Game 2, he announced that Clarke Schmidt would be the team's Game 3 starter in Kansas City. But perhaps that decision should have been made after the Game 2 result?

Why? Because Schmidt famously cannot provide length. Luis Gil has a better shot of giving the Yankees six or more innings. Schmidt missed half of the 2024 campaign with a lat injury and only logged 85 1/3 innings across his 16 starts. That's an average of 5 1/3 per outing, but Schmidt also hasn't completed six full innings since May 16. In fact, he only did it twice on May 10 and May 16.

He's a good pitcher without a doubt, and his road splits after favorable (he's much better away from Yankee Stadium), but it's unclear why the Yankees would prematurely make this decision knowing Schmidt's situation (and how he didn't exactly end 2024 on a high note).

On the other hand, Gil also averaged the same amount of innings per start, but that's partially a result of 2024 being his rookie season and the fact he worked many laborious outings throughout his five April starts. Gil pitched six or more innings in seven straight starts from May 1 - June 4 before he hit a bit of a wall and eventually went on the IL.

There are other talkng points to factor in, too. Schmidt has experience coming out of the bullpen while Gil does not. Wouldn't it be better to have Schmidt piggyback Gil rather than the other way around? Schmidt did that quite a lot back in 2022.

Why did Yankees shift their pitching plan with Clarke Schmidt ahead of ALDS Game 3?

Another thing? Boone just burned the entire bullpen over the first two games of the ALDS. All of Tim Hill, Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver were used in Game 1. Then, all of Hill, Holmes, Kahnle and Weaver were used again in Game 2, alongside Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins and Tim Mayza. Absolutely mental behavior for what was very clearly a losing effort once Rodón was removed from the game in the fourth.

So, given all that information, wouldn't you rather roll with the guy who gives you the best chance to go six or more innings? Then Schmidt could be saved for Game 4, assuming the bullpen is further burned to save a winning attempt at Game 3?

The other concern is Gil definitely does not profile as a relief option. He's a bit erratic and struggles with walks, whereas Schmidt pounds the zone and avoids the long ball. What do we know? We've only been watching intently all season.

The days off after Games 1 and 2 certainly helped, but the Yankees are going to need a valiant starting effort at some point if they want to preserve stamina for a playoff run that very much isn't looking likely right now.