Clarke Schmidt comes off IL, tosses 4-plus innings in Yankees' win

The New York Yankees reinstated right-handerClarke Schmidtfrom the 60-day injured list Saturday. Schmidt, who had been sidelined by a right lat strain, proceeded to strike out two in 4 innings of four-hit ball, helping the Yankees blank the Cubs 2-0.

Schmidt threw 75 pitches, 44 for strikes, in his first big league game since May 26.

"I felt like I still had a lot of strength and I wasn't fatiguing at all," Schmidt said.

The 28-year-old Schmidt was 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts before being sidelined by a right lat strain. He made two starts with Double-A Somerset and one with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on a rehab assignment and posted a 3.18 ERA over 11 innings.

Right-hander Ian Hamilton, 29, also was activated off the 60-day injured list and returned to the bullpen. He was 0-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 27 relief appearances before dealing with his own lat injury. He pitched four hitless innings of relief across three rehab games with Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

To make room on the active roster, the Yankees designated right-handed relievers Phil Bickford (0-0, 8.64 ERA) and Nick Burdi (1-0, 1.86) for assignment.

Information from Field Level Media and The Associated Press was used in this report.