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It is Game 18. A Wednesday night against the Royals. And not the George Brett Royals who the Yankees loathed in the way back.

Yet, Game 18 will have resonance beyond the monotony of the long season. Maybe more than that. It is a landmark for the 2025 Yankees to finally be adding a starter rather than losing one

Clarke Schmidt went down in spring with rotator cuff tendinitis. By then, the Yankees knew ace Gerrit Cole would miss the season after Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil would be out until June with a lat strain.

So Schmidt’s return is consequential. The Yankees have been in survive-and-advance mode with their starters. They have mainly had two rotations — when Max Fried pitches and everyone else. Fried was really good again Tuesday night, holding Kansas City to two runs in 6 ²/₃ innings in a 4-2 victory. The lefty has a 1.88 ERA and the Yanks are 4-0 when he starts, and 6-7 with a 6.20 rotation ERA in the other games.