The New York Yankees appeared to be regaining momentum after a brutal stretch that knocked them from the top of the AL East standings.
Between late May and early July, they went from leading the division by seven games to falling 3 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays. That collapse included two six-game losing streaks and a frustrating 15-21 record over 36 games.
Still, entering Saturday’s game against the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, the Yankees were riding high on a five-game winning streak.
On the mound was Max Fried-an All-Star and their new ace, signed this offseason to an eight-year, $218 million contract. But what started as a hopeful afternoon at Yankee Stadium ended in frustration and concern for the Bronx Bombers.
A blister halts Fried’s dominant run
Fried, who took over as the Yankees’ No. 1 starter following Gerrit Cole’s season-ending Tommy John surgery, had been exceptional through his first 19 starts. He led the league with 11 wins and carried a 2.27 ERA-good for fifth-best in MLB.
With Cole sidelined and a battered rotation behind him, Fried was everything the Yankees hoped for when they inked the richest deal ever given to a left-handed pitcher.
However, Fried’s start against the Cubs was far from his usual dominance. He lasted only three innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits.
He walked three and struck out just two-his first outing since May in which he had more walks than strikeouts. After coming out for the fourth inning, he was pulled from the game, clearly uncomfortable.
Shortly afterward, the Yankees announced that Fried exited due to a painful blister on the index finger of his pitching hand. While that might sound minor to casual fans, blisters can seriously impact a pitcher’s grip, control, and velocity-especially when throwing breaking balls or high-speed fastballs.
Even more concerning is Fried’s history with this exact issue. He previously battled similar finger blisters in 2018, 2019, and most recently in September 2023, when a flare-up ended his season prematurely with Atlanta. In 2019, he even landed on the injured list due to the same type of injury.
With the All-Star break underway, the Yankees have a few extra days to assess Fried’s status. Under ideal circumstances, he might return as early as July 18. But given his blister history and the unpredictable nature of the injury, it’s far from a guarantee.
As New York aims to stay in the playoff race, the team’s hopes hinge on Fried’s health. If he’s out for an extended period, the Yankees may once again find themselves scrambling to patch together a compromised rotation.
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