Lincoln Zdunich
The New York Yankees lost to the division rival Baltimore Orioles Wednesday afternoon, dropping the series as well. But the worst news was ace Max Fried exiting his start after throwing just 61 pitches. He was initially diagnosed with left elbow posterior soreness. Fried will undergo imaging on Thursday in New York to determine the extent of the issue.
That being said, Fried isn’t too worried. He publicly stated that he would love to make his next start but that he’s not sure if that will be the case. It’s possible he misses more time than that. More will be known after he undergoes an examination from team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad Thursday.
Fried has struggled with his command through much of 2026. He’s still managed to be an effective starter, posting a 3.21 ERA across 61 2/3 innings pitched. But Fried only has 50 strikeouts across that many innings. That’s not that unusual for the southpaw. He’s never been a real strikeout pitcher, never reaching the 200-plus strikeout mark in his 10-year career.
In May, Fried has given up 11 runs across just 14 1/3 innings. It’s been a difficult stretch, to say the least. It’s possible that an IL stint might help him rebound from his recent arduous stretch. But the Yanks can’t really afford to lose any ground right now. Though they’re second in the American League East with a robust 27-17 record, New York has a 4-6 record in their last ten games. That includes a recent road trip in which they went 1-5. The Yankees need to rebound, and losing Fried doesn’t help things.
The Return of Rodón … And Possibly Cole?
The good news for New York is that they don’t have to look far to find rotation help. With Carlos Rodón pitching his 2026 debut on Sunday, the Yankees have an immediate option to turn to until Fried returns. Rodón didn’t pitch particularly well against the Milwaukee Brewers in his debut. He gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings, but was mostly solid. His biggest problem was command, struggling to find the zone and walking five batters.
Rodón has emerged as a front-line rotation option for New York in the last two years. The lefty owns a 3.50 ERA from 2024-25 (370.1 IP). It’s been a roller coaster of a career for the veteran, who has struggled with injuries for much of his 12-year career. Now that Rodón is finally back, the Yanks will need him to be the dominant pitcher he has been if they hope to secure the AL East.
Gerrit Cole, on the other hand, is still in rehab after having Tommy John surgery last year. His rehab has been solid, putting up a 5.32 ERA (23.2 IP) during his time in New York’s minor league system. Cole will reportedly make his return in late May or early June, though his timeline has shifted several times so that’s liable to change.
Cole is a legendary pitcher in MLB. He’s posted a 3.18 ERA and racked up 2,251 strikeouts across his storied career (1,954.0 IP). He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024 due to injury, but has still found success in recent years despite his age. If Cole makes his return soon, it would be a huge boost for the Yankees’ rotation.
