Yankees' Pitcher Max Fried Emerges as Team's Top Performer with Gerrit Cole Injured
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Yankees’ Max Fried Steps Up Big in Gerrit Cole's Absence
LOS ANGELES — Despite Max Fried's loss to the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium, the left-hander has undoubtedly played a crucial role in helping the Yankees cope with the absence of staff ace Gerrit Cole, who's out for the season due to an elbow injury.
Aaron Judge spoke about Fried, mentioning how he isn't sure what the team's standing would be without him. Much like Cole, who hails from the Los Angeles area, Judge recognizes Fried's talents, stating that watching him up close showcases the total package.
When Fried signed as a free agent during the 2025 offseason for eight years and $218 million, it was hoped he would provide the Yankees with a potent one-two pitching duo alongside Cole. However, Cole underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery after suffering an elbow injury during spring training, missing nearly the first three months of the 2024 season.
Now, Cole is ruled out for the season and will rehab from the surgery until sometime in 2026. He's on the California trip but is still in the strength and conditioning phase of his recovery. Picking up a baseball and throwing it remains in the distant future. Historically, recovery from Tommy John surgery can take up to 18 months.
"I'm rather pragmatic," Cole said. "I want to just focus on each day and feel like everything's going well at the moment. However, part of the challenge of these long processes is not to get too far ahead of yourself."
As Cole's absence is felt, Fried has more than filled the gap. With ample assistance from Carlos Rodon, he entered the game with a 7-0 record and a league-leading 1.28 ERA. Despite a pair of Shohei Ohtani homers and a blown 5-2 lead, Fried took the loss. His record dropped to 7-1, and his ERA increased to 1.92 (now fifth in the Majors).
Fried didn't get a chance to play against the Dodgers in the World Series last autumn since he was still with the Atlanta Braves. However, Fried's performance on Friday night mirrored Game 5 at Yankee Stadium when Cole was on the mound, and the Yankees lost a 5-0 lead due to poor defensive plays in the fifth inning. They went on to lose the series that night.
"I understand how it feels on a night like that," Fried said. "I'm a competitor, and I want to go out there and win. It's never a good feeling when you give up the lead. It doesn't sit well with me."
Boone, who appreciates Fried's spirit, said he liked everything about him. Boone also praised Aaron Judge, who continues to excel offensively, setting a monumental pace in his historic first two months of the season that wrapped up on Saturday. Through Saturday, he boasted a .398 batting average with 21 homers, 50 RBIs, 86 hits, 54 runs scored, a .490 OBP, and a 1.268 OPS.
Even though Fried had a subpar outing on Friday, he still displays impressive numbers, with an 0.97 WHIP, 70 strikeouts in 75 innings, and a 3-1 record. Opponents are also hitting just .205 off him. Like Cole, Fried possesses World Series experience. In fact, Fried was instrumental in the Braves' 2023 World Series victory, pitching an outstanding six no-run, four-hit ballgame in a 7-0 championship-winning effort.
The fact that Cole was sidelined following the Yankees' signing of Fried has proven to be somewhat consoling.
"Max has been a massive factor in our current standing," Cole said. "Aaron putting together such a phenomenal season for us is always a driving force. He's incredibly consistent every day, and we're fortunate to have him. It's hard to watch from my current situation, but that's the situation I've been dealt, and I'm doing my best to navigate it."
In the same article, mentioning sports and baseball, one could note that Max Fried's impressive performance is filling the gap left by the injury-induced absence of staff ace Gerrit Cole, who used to play for the Yankees in the MLB. Additionally, prior to his injury, Cole was hoping to form a potent one-two pitching duo alongside Fried, whom he recognizes as a talented baseball player similar to himself.
