Yankees LHP Max Fried (elbow soreness) doesn't anticipate long absence

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th May, 18:48 2026

May 13, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) delivers during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

New York left-hander Max Fried exited Wednesday afternoon's start against the host Baltimore Orioles after three innings due to what the Yankees announced was left elbow posterior soreness.

The Yankees said that Fried, 32, will be evaluated by team doctors and undergo imaging on Thursday. He made it clear talking postgame with reporters that he doesn't expect this to be something which sidelines him long-term.

"I guess you never know, but I'm definitely planning on this being sooner rather than later," Fried said. "I don't want to put any timelines or anything like that. I'm not too worried about a super long-term thing. If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we'll see."

Fried, who threw 61 pitches, gave up three runs on five hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in raising his ERA to 3.21. The Yankees trailed 3-0 at the time of Fried's departure as right-handed reliever Paul Blackburn started the fourth inning.

"His stuff was down," manager Aaron Boone said. "It would take him two, three hitters in the inning to get to 95 (mph) when he needed it. He was just having a hard time getting ramped up.

"I just knew he was a little off, so I talked to him after that third (inning). He was just telling me he was having a hard time getting it. I just said, ‘Let's pull it here.'"

"It's just a little uncomfortable and tight, especially between innings," Fried added. "It's hard for me to loosen up. I just wasn't sharp, and it was just hard to keep bouncing back. I definitely wasn't helping the team. I could've kept pitching, but at that point, it was like, ‘Hey, let's make sure we can calm this thing down.'"

Fried entered the game with a 4-2 record, 2.91 ERA, 18 walks and 48 strikeouts in a major league-high 58 2/3 innings while facing an American League-high 227 batters.

An All-Star selection in 2022, 2024 and last season, Fried owns a career 96-44 record with a 3.04 ERA, 316 walks and 1,112 strikeouts in 1,141 1/3 innings over 210 regular-season games (193 starts) for the Atlanta Braves (2017-24) and Yankees (2025-present).

Fried was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2012 MLB Draft.

--Field Level Media

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