Stroman on IL with left knee inflammation; Schmidt in line to return

NEW YORK – The Yankees placed right-hander Marcus Stroman on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation prior to Saturday’s game against the Giants at Yankee Stadium.

Stroman underwent testing after recording just two outs in the Yanks’ 9-1, rain-shortened loss to San Francisco on Friday, a start in which he was charged with five runs. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stroman had X-rays performed at Yankee Stadium, then was sent to a local hospital for further examination.

In a corresponding move, the Yankees recalled right-hander Allan Winans from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Winans, 29, saw big league time in 2023 and ’24 with the Braves, posting a 7.20 ERA in eight starts (40 innings). He had allowed one unearned run in 2 2/3 innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

Stroman’s injury appears to solve the dilemma of how the Yankees will reintroduce right-hander Clarke Schmidt to the rotation this coming week, with Schmidt slated to start either Tuesday or Wednesday against the Royals following two sharp Minor League rehab appearances.

“I definitely feel good,” Schmidt said on Saturday. “I feel like my last two starts have been productive down there in [Double-A] Somerset. I’m happy with the results, the stuff, the command and everything that goes with it.”

Other choices had included demoting right-hander Will Warren to Triple-A, as Warren has two Minor League options remaining, or risking losing right-hander Carlos Carrasco on waivers.

Signed to a two-year, $37 million contract ahead of the 2024 season, Stroman got off to a strong start, but his second-half struggles prompted a September move to the bullpen. He did not appear in the postseason.

Since June 1, 2024, Stroman has pitched to a 5-8 record and 6.27 ERA in 21 games (20 starts), including 12 runs allowed in 9 1/3 innings this year (11.57 ERA). Stroman has a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that can be exercised if Stroman pitches at least 140 innings.

After Friday’s game, Boone said he believes Stroman -- an 11-year veteran who has previously pitched with the Blue Jays, Mets and Cubs -- still has the equipment to be a viable big league starter.

“I do, because I think the movement qualities are there,” Boone said. “Again, [Stroman has] less margin for error, and there’s probably some adjustments we can all make with him that hopefully allow him to go out there and be effective. Because the stuff is not much different than the first half of last season, to the second half to now. So we’ve just got to execute a little better.”