Max Fried showcased his pitching prowess against his former team, delivering a gem for the New York Yankees in their 3-2, 10-inning comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Fried, pitching against the Braves for the first time since signing with the Yankees on Dec. 17, 2024, was dominant over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.
Despite the Yankees' ongoing rotation incompleteness and Fried's own cautious pitch counts as he regains full stamina after a recent injury, the left-hander appeared sharp. He increased his pitch count from 78 in his previous outing to 90 on Friday, mixing all seven of his pitches and seeing his velocity tick up. Fried has been effective since returning from the injured list, surrendering only four earned runs in 19 2/3 innings for an ERA of 1.83.
Fried and the Yankees' rotation have been a bright spot, allowing one run or fewer in eight of their last 10 games, with starters posting a 1.56 ERA over 57 2/3 innings in that span. However, the team's offense has struggled to consistently support the strong pitching, leading to only five wins in that stretch. Friday's game was no exception for the first eight innings.
The only significant threat against Fried came in the first inning when Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies reached base. After a single by Mauricio Dubón with two outs, Albies attempted to advance from first to third. A strong throw from Trent Grisham to third base resulted in Albies being tagged out before he could score, preventing the Braves from taking an early lead.
Fried then retired the final 12 batters he faced, demonstrating control and efficiency. He engaged in friendly exchanges with former teammates like Matt Olson during the game, appearing in good spirits against the team he played for over his first eight major league seasons.
The Yankees' offense came alive late, scoring in the ninth and 10th innings to secure the narrow victory. The win highlighted the Yankees' recent pitching successes despite offensive inconsistencies.