The New York Yankees lost to the division rival Baltimore Orioles today, also dropping the series. But the worst news was that ace Max Fried was out in his debut after throwing only 61 pitches. He was initially diagnosed with pain in the back of his left elbow. Fried will undergo imaging in New York on Thursday to determine the severity of the problem.
That being said, Fried isn't too worried. He publicly stated that he would love to make his next debut but is not sure that will happen. It's possible he'll lose more time than that. More will be known after examination by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmed on Thursday.
Fried has struggled with his command for most of 2026. He still managed to be an effective starter, posting a 3.21 ERA in 61 2/3 innings. But Fried has only 50 strikeouts in that many innings. It's not like that He Unusual for the Southeast. He was never a true strikeout pitcher, never reaching the 200-plus strikeout mark in his 10-year career.
In May, Fried gave up 11 runs in just 14 1/3 innings. At least it can be said that this has been a difficult period. It's possible that the IL stint could help him bounce back from his recent tough times. But the Yanks really can't afford to lose any positions right now. Although they are in second place in the American League East with a strong 27–17 record, New York has a 4–6 record in their last ten games. This includes a recent road trip in which they went 1-5. The Yankees need to bounce back, and losing Fried won't help.
The return of Rodan...and possibly Cole?
The good news for New York is that they don't have to look far to find rotation help. With Carlos Rodon making his 2026 debut on Sunday, the Yankees have an immediate option until Fried returns. Rodon did not pitch particularly well in his debut against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, but was mostly solid. His biggest problems were command, struggling to find the zone and walking five batters.
Rodon has emerged as a front-line rotation option for New York over the past two years. The lefty has a 3.50 ERA since 2024-25 (370.1 IP). It has been a rollercoaster career for the veteran player, who has battled injuries for most of his 12-year career. Now that Rodon is finally back, he will need to become a dominant pitcher if the Yanks hope to secure the AL East.
Gerrit Cole, on the other hand, is still in rehabilitation after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. His rehab has been solid, recording 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, although his timeline has changed several times, so this is subject to change.
Cole is a famous pitcher in MLB. He has posted a 3.18 ERA and had 2,251 strikeouts over his long career (1,954.0 IP). Due to injury he has not competed in major competitions since 2024, but has enjoyed success in recent years despite his age. If Cole returns soon, it would be a big boost for the Yankees' rotation.
