The Yankees entered their off day buoyed by a three-game sweep of the Cardinals and a favorable stretch of schedule that has them staying in the mix for the postseason. They’ve won five of their last six and six of their last eight, and with other contenders scuffling, they gained ground in the wild-card race as they head into a two-game set with the Rays. But a spotlight remains on Max Fried, whose recent struggles have tempered the mood and raised questions about how New York might structure its playoff rotation.
After a dominant stretch earlier in the season, Fried’s results have cooled since the All-Star break. He handed the Yankees a season-high seven earned runs in a 12-8 win over St. Louis on Saturday, and he’s been touched for more hits and more runs than fans had grown accustomed to seeing. Once a leading Cy Young contender and a focal point of the rotation, Fried now finds himself in a position where the Yankees may need to consider alternatives for Game 1 of a potential playoff series if his current form doesn’t turn around.
Key context on Fried’s recent slide:
– Before July, Fried was 10-2 with a 1.92 ERA. Since July 1, he is 3-3 with a 6.80 ERA and a 1.585 WHIP over eight starts.
– He has walked 16 batters in 41 innings in those eight starts, after a period with far fewer walks in the first half of the season.
– He left a July 12 start against the Cubs with a blister on his left index finger, though he and theorganization have said there’s no lingering effect and they don’t view it as a mechanical issue.
– Scouts have noted fatigue as a plausible factor given the innings he has logged in recent seasons, suggesting that elevated mistakes may be tied to workload as much as anything else.
Manager Aaron Boone has signaled that the team needs to address the issues at hand rather than waiting for a fixed solution to appear. He pointed to the need for “the next-level strike-throwing” as part of Fried’s ongoing adjustments. Fried himself acknowledged a walk here and there but emphasized that he’s still finding ways to get outs and avoid big damage when behind in counts.
The bigger picture for the Yankees remains positive despite the concern around Fried. They’ve moved into a position where a couple of wins could strengthen their hold on a playoff spot, especially as other contenders stumble. With Toronto, Boston and Seattle all slipping on Monday, New York sits within reach of the first wild-card berth and continues to feel good about the overall direction of the team.
What this means going forward:
– The Yankees will likely monitor Fried closely as they assess playoff rotation plans. If the current version of him doesn’t rebound promptly, they could explore rotation tweaks or alternative arrangements for Game 1, while staying confident in the rest of their pitching depth.
– The offense, which has maintained production with contributions scattered throughout the lineup, remains a steady source of support as the pitching staff searches for consistency.
– The club’s health and fatigue management will be in focus, particularly with the heavy workload Fried has carried in recent seasons. If fatigue proves to be a factor, the team may pace him more carefully down the stretch or lean on other arms to preserve their postseason chances.
In sum, the Yankees are squarely in the mix as they head into a critical stretch, riding momentum from their recent run but mindful of the need to stabilize Fried and the rotation as a whole. If Fried can regain the form and command that made him a stalwart earlier this season, New York’s chances of making a deep October run improve markedly. If not, the team will need to lean on its depth and tactical adjustments to keep the postseason dream alive.
Additional note: a hopeful takeaway for fans is the combination of a resilient lineup, strong recent results, and the opportunity to test their rotation under real playoff-like pressure in a head-to-head series with the Rays. The path remains clear: fix the pitching hiccups, stay aggressive at the plate, and keep grinding toward a meaningful finish.