Max Fried’s Injury Update
Max Fried is still dealing with a blister on his left index finger, an issue that cropped up during Saturday’s game against the Cubs. It’s unclear how this will affect his availability for the upcoming games, especially since he won’t be pitching at Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. Fried had a previous game stacked with difficulties, so a little break might actually work in his favor.
After Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Chicago, Fried mentioned that it was too early to judge how well he might heal, but the day after, he felt he was “going in the right direction.” It’s reassuring, although it’s hard to predict at this stage. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Fried could potentially get his start back soon, depending on how his recovery progresses in the coming days.
Interestingly, before Fried’s injury, there was some buzz about Tarik Skubal from Detroit possibly stepping in to start instead of Fried. Fried himself was quite supportive, saying, “From my end, I feel that if he wants to start a game, he deserves it.” And about Fried’s recent performance—it has been a mixed bag. He had a solid 1.92 ERA in his first 17 starts but has since allowed 10 runs over 14 innings in his last three outings, leading to a 6.43 ERA.
The Yankees are, of course, hoping Fried won’t be sidelined much longer, especially given how crucial he is during this season. Still, they’re going to need additional pitching support, particularly in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, another pitcher, who has been sidelined due to triceps tension since spring, made a notable return in a minor league start on Sunday. He put in a strong performance, but Boone noted that several rehab milestones need to be met before he can rejoin the squad.
On a related note, Trent Grisham didn’t play last Sunday due to a left hamstring strain that’s been bothering him for a couple of weeks now. Boone pointed out that this injury has cut back on Grisham’s time in center field and on the base paths. The plan is to give him about five days to rest before the Yankees kick off again in Atlanta on Friday. While Grisham sat out, Cody Bellinger filled in but ended his impressive 17-game hitting streak without a hit in three at-bats.
In other news, Gerrit Cole recently announced that he has been working hard in preparation for the season following his Tommy John surgery and is about a month away from starting to catch. It sounds promising, but only time will tell how everything unfolds.
