Max Fried is quite the intriguing pitcher.
He doesn’t necessarily blow batters away with speed.
And his strikeout numbers aren’t exactly elite.
Yet, every pitch has movement, making him a formidable presence in all areas of the strike zone, showcasing a more nuanced type of dominance.
But the results? They’re straightforward. When he’s on his game, his team comes out on top.
The Yankees improved to 7-7 in games started by Fried after their 3-0 win against the Rays on Friday, where he allowed just one hit over seven innings in front of 45,189 fans.
Aaron Boone’s Yankees (19-13) kicked off a six-game homestand with a solid performance, bouncing back from a disappointing series with Baltimore.
Fried started May showcasing his artistic prowess, having recently been named American League Pitcher of the Month for April.
He almost had a no-hitter, but a well-placed single by Jose Caballero broke that up in the fifth inning, and he allowed one runner into scoring position.
The Rays struggled to mount a rally against Fried, who mixed seven different pitches, ranging from a curveball at 71.8 mph to a four-seam fastball hitting 97.4 mph.
With no answers, Fried, who issued two walks and hit one batter, looked at ease out there, lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.01.
It was a great night for Brian Cashman’s offseason moves, with Paul Goldschmidt hitting a three-run homer in the fifth inning.
The offense was generally kept in check, struggling to capitalize on scoring chances—unable to convert in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position until Goldschmidt’s clutch hit with two outs.
This right-handed slugger has launched three home runs this season, all against lefties, boasting a staggering .600 average in those matchups.
That swing proved crucial, as Devin Williams turned in a strong eight innings of relief and Luke Weaver secured the third save without allowing a hit. The pitching overall was mostly clean throughout the game.
Fried also contributed defensively by catching Caballero napping in the second inning. But he had plenty of help:
- Speedy plays by Oswald Cabrera and Jorbit Vivas led to a double play off Chandler Simpson’s bat, who’s possibly the quickest player in MLB.
- Cabrera executed a smooth sliding play to retire Yandi Diaz.
- In the fifth, Cabrera charged and handled a chopper from Curtis Mead, fielding it cleanly even with a tough hop, and quickly made the throw to the dugout.
- This also marked a sixth play for Vivas (who caught a pop-up in foul territory) and Goldschmidt (who snagged a 105.5 mph grounder).
