New York Yankees lefty ace Max Fried left Wednesday’s start against the Baltimore Orioles due to “left elbow posterior soreness,” per the team.
Fried will be examined by the team physician and have imaging done in New York on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury.
After the game, which ended in a 7-0 Orioles victory, the lefty was asked about the injury. Fried said he thinks it is hypertension or that feeling when you “bang the back of that elbow, tricep area.” This description could leave fans optimistic, but the pitcher may still be heading to the IL out of caution.
The starter was able to throw only three innings against Baltimore. He threw 61 pitches and allowed five hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out two.
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When Paul Blackburn began warming up at the top of the fourth inning, it was suspected that Fried may have been dealing with a finger blister, an issue that has bothered him in the past.
This update from the team is more worrisome, as is any bad news involving a pitcher’s elbow.
Wednesday was Fried’s 10th start of the season. He entered with a 4-2 record and a 2.91 ERA.
The southpaw has a deep injury history. Fried had Tommy John surgery in 2014. He dealt with blisters in July 2018, May 2019, July 2019 and in June 2021. Fried has also missed time in his career due to a left hamstring injury and two forearm injuries.
The Yankees signed Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal ahead of the 2025 season. While he made 32 starts last year, the biggest worry around the massive contract with the injury-prone lefty may have reared its head on Wednesday.
