Max Fried (elbow) to face hitters in live BP session

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that Fried will progress to facing hitters in a live batting practice session next week before adding that a return following a minimum stint on the injured list is “in play.” There’s been nothing but optimistic news flowing out of New York’s clubhouse since Fried hit the injured list with a bone bruise and inflammation in his elbow earlier this week. There’s a realistic chance he’s back before the end of August.

It’s a remarkably different tone from Boone this time around after Fried missed nearly two months with a similar issue earlier this season. It sounds like it was more of a precautionary measure to put Fried on the injured list with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow earlier this week since he’s already resumed playing catch and is dealing with minimal elbow inflammation. It’s possible he’s ready to rejoin New York’s rotation at some point in late August or early September.

Not great. It’s unclear how much time Fried is going to miss, but it’s a massive concern for the Yankees, and fantasy managers, with less than six weeks left in the season. He was scheduled to start against the Orioles on Wednesday. The 32-year-old southpaw limited the Mariners to one run over five innings last Thursday in his fifth start back from the injured list after missing time for the same issue earlier this season. It’ll be Carlos Rodón (elbow) taking his spot in New York’s rotation, which means that neither Will Warren or Ryan Weathers are heading to the bullpen now.

The 32-year-old southpaw struck out four batters on the day while issuing a pair of free passes. The lone tally against him came on a solo blast off the bat of Weston Wilson in the second inning which proved to be the only scoring for either side in the contest. Fried got seven whiffs on 88 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll bring a stellar 2.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 79/27 K/BB ratio (86 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s tilt against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Fried scattered three hits over 6 1/3 innings against his former team on Friday while striking out seven batters. While fantasy managers won’t be disappointed in the production, Fried received no run support while on the mound, exiting in the seventh inning with the game stuck in a scoreless tie. We’re still waiting on Fried’s fifth win of the season, as he hasn’t picked up a win since April 27th against the Rangers. Fried has allowed just four earned runs over his last 19 2/3 innings of work and is next scheduled to start on Wednesday at home against the Mariners.

Fried departed with a one-run lead, but since it didn’t hold up, he’s still winless in three starts since coming off the IL. In fact, he’s gone winless in six straight starts overall. The only other time he went more than four straight starts without a win was in 2024, when he went 0-4 with a 4.89 ERA in a seven-start stretch for Atlanta. That one also took place around an injury; he missed three starts in the middle of it with a forearm issue. Speaking of Atlanta, Fried will face his old team at home next time out, probably on Friday.

Fried gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four. After throwing five scoreless innings in his return start against the Pirates last week, this start was a bit of a clunker. Fried allowed three runs in the first inning before holding the White Sox scoreless for the next two innings. Having thrown 66 pitches, Fried didn’t even start the fourth inning. He should be able to throw a few more pitches in his next start against the Cubs on the road on Saturday.

Working on a limit of about 60 pitches in his return from a bone bruise in his elbow, Fried got through five in 57, 37 of which were strikes, and averaged 96.2 mph with his fastball, which was 1.5 mph better than his season average. He left a scoreless game, so there was no win to be had. However, it was an awfully encouraging showing. He’ll get the White Sox next.

Fried returns to New York’s rotation for the nightcap of Wednesday’s twin bill against the Pirates following a 10-week absence due to a bone bruise in his elbow. The 32-year-old fantasy ace posted a strong 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 50/19 K/BB ratio across 61 2/3 innings prior to hitting the shelf in mid-May. He’s likely to be limited to roughly 60 pitches in his return from the injured list since that was the number he was slated to throw in a minor league rehab start before the Yankees decided to bring him back instead. His return should provide a massive lift for fantasy managers heading into the final two months.

He’s back. Fried is likely be limited to roughly 60 pitches in his return after throwing just 52 in his lone minor league outing last week. The 32-year-old upper-echelon fantasy starter will rejoin New York’s rotation instead of making another rehab start following a 10-week absence recovering from a bone bruise in his left elbow. He was off to a strong start with a 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 50/19 K/BB ratio across 61 2/3 innings prior to the injury. The Pirates have been unexpectedly hot the last few weeks, but it’s a decent landing spot right out of the gate.