The New York Yankees are looking to get back on track after a difficult stretch during an otherwise successful 2026 MLB season. The Yankees finally snapped a seven-game losing streak Friday against the Minnesota Twins, and enter Saturday with a 49-38 record. During the Yankees’ slump, their division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, have won nine straight and now hold a four-game lead over New York in the American League East.
The Yankees’ struggles have come as the team has been hit with a flurry of injuries to both key hitters and members of their pitching staff. The absence of star left-hander Max Fried has left the Yankees' rotation thin since he was placed on the 15-day IL on May 16.
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On Saturday, Gary Phillips of NYDN Sports shared another update on Fried's recovery process after speaking with manager Aaron Boone.
“Max Fried will throw 35 pitches over 2 ups tomorrow. If that goes well, Aaron Boone mentioned he could throw 40-something pitches on Friday in another live and ‘then a rehab’ start. Fried is still a few weeks away from potentially returning, and the #Yankees will start discussing where they want his pitch count to be when he's activated as he progresses. Fried said he felt ‘completely normal’ after his last live, and he's worked on some mechanical tweaks,” Phillips shared on X.
Prior to his injury, the three-time All-Star was having another strong season in New York. Through 10 starts, the 32-year-old posted a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.005 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts while only allowing one home run.
Although Fried is still several weeks away from returning, his eventual return could provide a significant boost to the rotation during the second half of the season. The club will continue monitoring his progress as he works toward a rehab start in the coming weeks.
The Yankees look to clinch a series victory against the Twins on Saturday.
