Rachel: Wait, hold on. Did you see the final score from Arizona last night? Eight to four. That’s not how you want to close out a series when your season is on the line.
Dave: It’s a tough pill to swallow, Rachel. Nolan Arenado hit his third grand slam of the year. You can’t give up that kind of production in the late innings if you’re chasing a playoff spot.
Rachel: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we break down the biggest stories in sports every single day. I’m Rachel, and as always, I’m joined by our lead analyst, Dave.
Dave: Hey everyone. It’s good to be here. We’ve got a massive day ahead of us. The Yankees are sitting at 89-66, second in the AL East, and they have one game left against the Diamondbacks before turning their attention to Tampa Bay.
Rachel: That’s right. Today we’re breaking down the rubber match against Arizona, looking at Clarke Schmidt’s start against Max Fried. Then we’ll dive into the injury report—specifically Aaron Judge—and finally, we’ll preview tomorrow’s critical matchup against the Rays.
Dave: We’re also going to talk about whether David Bednar is ready to step into the closer role full-time after that rough outing yesterday. Let’s get into it.
Rachel: Okay, let’s start with the immediate business. Game Four against the Diamondbacks. We talked about this yesterday, Dave. I predicted a 4-2 win for the Yankees with Ben Rice hitting a homer. You said 3-2 with Bednar getting the save. How did that play out?
Dave: Ouch. Well, neither of us got it quite right. The D-backs won 5-3. Pavin Smith hit that two-run homer in the ninth to lift them over us. But looking at the pitching matchup for today, Clarke Schmidt is taking the mound against Max Fried.
Rachel: Schmidt vs. Fried. This feels like a classic cat-and-mouse game. Schmidt has been solid in the rotation lately, but Fried is one of the most deceptive pitchers in baseball. He keeps hitters off balance with his changeup and movement.
Dave: Exactly. And for the Yankees, the key is plate discipline. If they chase Fried’s off-speed stuff early in the count, they’re going to struggle. We saw some gaps in that department yesterday. Gerrit Cole was historic earlier in the week, but Schmidt needs to mimic that command.
Rachel: Do you think Schmidt can contain the Diamondbacks’ lineup long enough to keep this close? They’ve got power, especially with Arenado heating up. Yesterday was a reminder of what happens when you leave pitches over the plate.
Dave: I think he can. Schmidt has the strikeout stuff to miss bats. The issue isn’t usually velocity; it’s location. If he stays up in the zone, Arenado will punish him. If he can bury his fastball or use his slider away from right-handed hitters, he gets through the order.
Rachel: So, keeping it tight. No easy outs. That’s the mantra. What about the bullpen? After yesterday’s collapse, do you trust Michael Fulmer or John Schreiber to shut the door in the eighth?
Dave: I’m cautious. Fulmer has been reliable, but Schreiber has had some inconsistency issues with walk rates. If Schmidt goes deep into the game, we might not even need them. But if he leaves early, we’re in trouble.
Rachel: Let’s hope Schmidt goes deep. That’s the only way we stay alive in this series. Stick with us, because we’re about to talk about the elephant in the room: Aaron Judge.
Rachel: Aaron Judge. Again. The headlines say he hopes to be back for October, but there’s no definitive timeline. He’s on the 10-Day IL. How does this impact today’s lineup?
Dave: It’s a significant blow. Without Judge, the middle of the order loses its primary run-producing threat. We’re seeing Austin Wells and Ali Sanchez catch more playing time behind the plate, which changes the defensive dynamic too.
Rachel: And Paul Goldschmidt is still in the mix, right? We mentioned his strategic advantage in previous episodes. Does he carry more weight now?
Dave: Absolutely. Goldschmidt’s experience and ability to drive in runs become even more vital. He’s batting cleanup or fifth, and he needs to be productive. His platoon splits are favorable against left-handed pitching, so if the D-backs go lefty, he’s a huge asset.
Rachel: What about the rest of the roster? We’ve got Tyler Locklear, Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk, Andrew Saalfrank, Cristian Mena—all on the 60-Day IL. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham are on the 10-Day. It’s a crowded injury list.
Dave: It’s brutal. Fernando Cruz is on the 15-Day too. The Yankees are surviving on depth right now. Guys like Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos are getting opportunities they didn’t expect this late in the season. Their performance will dictate how far this team goes.
Rachel: Spencer Jones in right field. He’s young, raw, but explosive. Do you think he’s ready for the pressure of a playoff push?
Dave: He’s talented, yes. But defense is the question. If he’s struggling in the outfield, it takes away from his bat. The coaching staff has to balance his offensive upside with defensive reliability. It’s a tough call.
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Dave: Thanks for listening, everyone. Your support means everything. Now, let’s get back to the game. What are the keys to winning this series?
Rachel: Keys to the series. First, run prevention. We can’t afford another eight-run inning. Second, scoring in bunches. One-run games are fine, but we need multi-run frames to put pressure on Fried.
Dave: I agree. And third, bullpen management. Don’t burn out Bednar or Fulmer in non-save situations. Save them for the high-leverage spots. If we can get seven strong innings from Schmidt, we’re in great shape.
Rachel: Bold prediction time. I’m sticking with my guns. I think the Yankees win this game 4-2. Ben Rice hits a home run, and the bullpen holds firm. How about you, Dave?
Dave: I’m going slightly different. I predict a 3-2 Yankees win. Schmidt pitches well, Goldschmidt drives in two runs, and David Bednar earns the save in the ninth. It’s going to be close, but we take it.
Rachel: Alright, folks, we’ve got a lot riding on today. Win or lose, the focus shifts immediately to the Rays tomorrow. Can the Yankees secure that final playoff spot?
Dave: They have to. The margin for error is zero. Every pitch matters now. Let’s see if Clarke Schmidt can deliver when it counts.
Rachel: That’s all for today! Thanks for joining us on the Beatline Podcast Network. Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Share this episode with a fellow Yankee fan!
Dave: See you tomorrow for the Rays preview. Go Yankees!
Rachel: From all of us here at Beatline, keep swinging!