Clarke Schmidt Steals the Show as Yankees Keep Rolling in Kansas City
There’s a certain magic when a pitcher finds his groove on the road — and Wednesday night, Clarke Schmidt did more than just pitch — he delivered a performance.
With the precision of a maestro, Schmidt orchestrated a brilliant outing at Kauffman Stadium, freezing Royals hitters with a mix of sharp cutters and wicked curves. The result? A dominant showing that helped the Yankees secure a 6-3 win, their second straight in Kansas City.
Now sitting at 41-25, the Yankees are firmly in command of the AL East, and their momentum only seems to be building.
Offensive Outburst Sets the Tone Early
New York made a statement right out of the gate. In a second inning explosion, the Yankees tagged Royals ace Kris Bubic — who entered the game boasting the best ERA in the American League — for five quick runs.
They didn’t wait around. Hit after hit, mistake after mistake, the Yankees pounced, leaving Kansas City reeling. It was a reminder of just how dangerous this lineup can be — opportunistic, aggressive, and unrelenting.
Behind that offensive blitz, Schmidt took over.
Clarke Schmidt Is Turning a Corner
Pitching with poise and precision, the 29-year-old tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven. It was the kind of start that shows Schmidt isn’t just part of the rotation — he’s becoming a key piece of it.
His season ERA sits at 3.60, but what stands out even more is his recent stretch: a 2.90 ERA over his last seven starts. He’s pitching with confidence, command, and the kind of maturity that could force the Yankees to reconsider how high his ceiling really is.
Schmidt isn’t just filling in — he’s stepping up.
Aaron Judge’s MVP Push Gains Steam
Even on a night where he wasn’t perfect, Aaron Judge still found a way to shine. Despite striking out twice, he crushed his 25th home run of the season — a solo blast that lifted his AL-best batting average to .394 and extended his RBI lead to 59.
The MVP buzz is getting louder, and for good reason. If Judge keeps this pace, the Triple Crown conversation will only grow — a feat not seen since Miguel Cabrera pulled it off in 2012.
Watching Judge right now is like watching a master craftsman — every swing a stroke of brilliance shaping a potentially historic season.
Ninth-Inning Jitters Expose Bullpen Concerns
Not everything went smoothly. With a 6-0 cushion in the ninth, Mark Leiter Jr. was called in to close it out — but things quickly unraveled.
Leiter surrendered three runs on four hits, including a two-run homer to Salvador Perez, suddenly breathing life into a Royals team that looked finished.
Manager Aaron Boone quickly turned to closer Devin Williams, who calmly shut things down with a strikeout and a grounder, locking in the win. Still, the scare served as a wake-up call: not every lead is safe, and the bullpen still has its vulnerabilities.
A Team Hitting Its Stride
With Schmidt dealing, Judge dominating, and the offense clicking, the Yankees are hitting their stride at just the right time. There are cracks to patch — particularly in the bullpen — but this is a team gaining confidence with every win.
As summer heats up, so do the Yankees — and right now, they look like a club ready to chase something special.
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