Max Fried Is Back! NY 2 Pittsburgh 0

July 23, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Max Fried is BACK, and DEALING. Fried threw 5 shutout innings after being on injured list last 2 months.

Max Fried is BACK. And DEALING.

Fried came out of nowhere — eschewing his last rehab start in the minors and instead being added to the Yankee roster before the game and surprise, surprise was out on the mound to start the 2nd game of a twinbill at Yankee Stadium on a Wednesday afternoon. And he threw down — 5 shutout innings of 1-hit, shutout ball, striking out 7 and walking 1.

The Yankee bullpen threw down too — 4 shutout innings — as did Bubba Chandler for the Pirates — throwing 102-MPH heat and a 2-hit shutout into the 7th.

But Bubba was relieved with 1 out in the 7th, and the Yanks went to work against lefty reliever Brandon Eisert: a walk by Cody Bellinger and consecutive 2-out, RBI hits by Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe to give the Yanks a 2-0 victory and split of the doubleheader.

“He looked great, obviously,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Frankly its as good as he’s looked all year in any of his other starts. You’re kind of hoping he’ll get you through 3 innings maybe 10 outs, whatever — and to be that efficient to go 5 innings shutout for us. He was really sharp from jump; had some swing and miss going. He was dealing.”

NY improves to 57-45 and remain 2 back of Tampa and 4 ahead of Boston, which finally lost after 15 straight wins (losing the 2nd game of their twinbill with the Orioles). Pittsburgh drops to 53-50, a half game out of the Wild Card in the NL.

1. Fried Was Dealing

Max Fried has been on the injured list since May 13th with a left elbow bone bruise. The injury, which developed from the repetitive stress of throwing at high velocity, caused pain and swelling in the elbow joint, visible on MRI scans. The cure was a complete shutdown for 6 weeks, and then a gradual buildup throwing program. He was due for another rehab start in the minors, but after the rainout on Tuesday forced a doubleheader on Wednesday, the Yanks put him on the roster Wednesday morning — and started him in the 2nd game.

He replaced Will Warren, who was due to start. Warren would come in for the 9th inning of this game. Afterwards, Boone said Warren is next due to start on Sunday.

Fried allowed a single to the first batter of the game — Nick Gonzales — but he was thrown out trying to leg it into a doubly by Cody Bellinger in left.

After that, Fried started DEALING — looking like the Max Fried of last year.

Fried got the last 2 outs of the 1st, allowed a leadoff walk in the 2nd — and then got 12 straight outs — pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd through 5th.

2. Great Yankee Defense Behind Fried & Pen

The Yankee defense was Great all day.

Besides the Bellinger play to lead off the game, Fried had help from Ryan McMahon who made a terrific play at 3rd to lead off the 4th.

Angel Chivilli got help from Trent Grisham — who hauled down a drive to left center in the top of the 6th.

Chivilli then got help from McMahon for the last out of the 6th — McMahon’s 2nd terrific play at 3rd in the game.

3. Bubba Good Too

Meanwhile Bubba Chandler looked all world — with his 102-MPH heater, 92-MPH slider, and 89-MPH changeup. Chandler came in with a 3-8 4.77 record but looked like Nolan Ryan, with a 2-hit shutout into the 7th. He struck out 5.

4. Chivili & Blackburn Tremendous

Angel Chivilli relieved Fried and pitched a shutout 6th — with help from Grisham and McMahon as mentioned above.

Chivilli allowed an infield single to centerfielder Jared Triolo leading off the 6th and was relieved by Paul Blackburn — the Yankees’ secret weapon. Blackburn struck out Bryan Reynolds, but Triolo stole 2nd and went to 3rd on an error by Yankee catcher Angel Sanchez on the throw.

With a runner on 3rd and 1 out in the 0-0 game, Blackburn walked Esmerlyn Valdez, but then struck out Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna to end the threat!

Blackburn then pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 8th with a 2-0 lead — getting the win.

5. The Martian & Volpe Clutch RBI Hits in 7th Put NY Up 2-0

Bubba Chandler got the 1st out of the 7th and thankfully was relieved at 84 pitches in the 0-0 game.

Pittsburgh brought in lefty reliever Brandon Eisert, and he walked Cody Bellinger but got Trent Grisham to fly out to left.

With 2 outs Jasson Dominguez stepped up and RIPPED a double to left for a 1-0 Yankee lead.

Anthony Volpe followed with a single to left, and The Martian raced home for a 2-0 Yankee lead.

6. Warren in the 9th — Jazz “Just” Gets Final Out

Will Warren came in for the 9th and allowed a leadoff single, the got a strikeout and groundout.

With 2 outs he walked Valdez and was lifted for Tim Hill to face the lefty Ryan O’Hearn.

O’Hearn hit a grounder to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at 2nd — and Chisholm got the ball stuck in his glove but “JUST” made the throw in time for the final out. The Pirates challenged the call — and the replay appeared to have O’Hearn safe at 1st — but the refs ruled it too close to overturn and that was the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401898714

 

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