The New York Yankees faced a setback on Wednesday as left-handed pitcher Max Fried was forced to exit his start against the Baltimore Orioles after just three innings due to soreness in his elbow. The team reported that Fried is scheduled for tests and further evaluation during the Yankees’ off-day on Thursday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented on Fried’s condition after the game, noting, “Early on, it seemed like he was struggling to loosen up and find his rhythm. It took him several pitches to reach his release point.” Boone added that Fried had been experiencing some discomfort between starts, though it was not unusual for him during the season. He reassured, “In talking with him, I’m not overly concerned. We’ll conduct all necessary tests tomorrow.”
During Wednesday’s game, Fried struggled over three innings, conceding three runs on five hits and a walk. His recent performances have not been up to par, with Fried giving up 11 runs on 17 hits and seven walks over his last three starts, spanning 14 innings. Control has been a persistent issue, prompting Fried to switch from his windup to pitching exclusively from the stretch four starts ago.
“I’m not too worried about a super long-term thing. If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we’ll see,” Fried said (via the New York Daily News). He added his elbow feels “hyper-extended or banged.”
The Yankees recently saw the return of Carlos Rodón from the injured list and anticipate Gerrit Cole’s comeback after completing a few more rehab starts. Presently, New York’s rotation depth chart reflects these changes:
RHP Gerrit Cole(rehabbing from Tommy John surgery)- LHP Max Fried (exited Wednesday start with elbow soreness)
- LHP Carlos Rodón
- RHP Cam Schlittler
- RHP Will Warren
- LHP Ryan Weathers
RHP Luis Gil(on Triple-A injured list with shoulder inflammation)- RHP Elmer Rodríguez
Despite Fried’s potential absence, the Yankees are unlikely to hasten Cole’s return. Top prospect Rodríguez could be called upon to cover the gap between Fried and Cole’s reintegration, should Fried be sidelined.
As of Wednesday, the Yankees’ rotation impressively ranks second with a 3.06 ERA and leads with a 5.6 WAR. Pitchers Schlittler, Warren, and Weathers have been outstanding, with the latter two enjoying breakout seasons. Nonetheless, losing Fried, even for a short period, would be a significant setback in the fiercely competitive AL East race.
Wednesday’s loss (BAL 7, NYY 0) dropped the Yankees to 27-17, 2 ½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the division. Their plus-69 run differential is the AL’s best by 45 runs.
