Yankees Transform Max Fried's Pitching Style from Braves Era
Yankin' it Wit' Fried: Yankees on a Roll Thanks to Max
The Yankees are currently sailing on a 21-16 record, maintaining a two-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. While their offensive game has been a sight to behold, their pitching unit leaves much to desire, particularly with uncertainties surrounding many arms. Max Fried, however, isn't adding to that list of question marks as the Yankees' ace is 6-0 in eight starts, with the team winning every game he pitches.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake sat down with The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal to discuss the defining changes in Fried's pitching style since his Atlanta Braves days. Blake revealed that Atlanta has a strong traditional pitching program, but Fried wanted to explore the data and technology available now, which the Yankees have leaned into. They've focused on understanding how Fried's pitches move and why they move, as well as analyzing his body mechanics.
The Athletic's pitching expert Eno Sarris also spoke about Fried's transformation with the Yankees. His sinker, curveball, and changeup have demonstrated increased drop, and he's been pitching more sweepers. Moreover, his Stuff+ mix has experienced a significant improvement. Blake's tinkering with Fried seems to have saved the Yankees' season.
Yankees' Sail Smooth Thanks to Fried
In the offseason, the Yankees imagined a powerhouse one-two punch with Max Fried and Gerrit Cole. However, Cole's absence due to Tommy John surgery left a huge dent in those plans, placing immense pressure on the newcomer Fried. Nevertheless, he's meeting the expectations, starting eight games and winning six.
His first start wasn't impressive with some yields courtesy of the Yankees' defensive lapses but was saved by the potent offense. Fried allowed six runs, only two earned, in 4.2 innings in a lopsided 20-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Ever since, he's poured in 47 innings, conceding just four earned runs, making six wins in those games. Without Fried's starts, the Yankees' season would be a sinking ship. With him, they know they can rely on some top-notch pitching every five days.
Fried currently leads all of baseball with eight starts, six wins, a 1.05 ERA, 51.2 innings pitched, and 381 ERA+. The Yankees have grappled with subpar starts from Will Warren, recent DFA of Carlos Carrasco, and the absence of Marcus Stroman for a few weeks. Regardless, Fried has given the bullpen a much-needed break and provided the offense with opportunities to shine.
The Yankees' success in baseball, especially in the MLB, is largely due to the consistent performances of Max Fried, who has earned six wins in eight starts. Without Fried's top-notch pitching, the Yankees' season may have been a struggling one, as they grappled with subpar starts from other pitchers.
