Max Fried returns from two-month injury, Yankees split Pirates doubleheader

Max Fried made his return from a two-month injury layoff on Wednesday, pitching five innings and allowing just one hit as the New York Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader. Fried struck out seven batters and walked one, with his fastball averaging 96.2 mph—1.5 mph above his season average—after being sidelined since May 14 with a bone bruise in his left elbow. The left-hander's efficient outing featured 10 consecutive retirements to close his appearance, throwing 57 pitches with 37 strikes.

The Yankees accelerated Fried's return after Tuesday's scheduled game against the Pirates was postponed due to heavy rain and a flash flood warning in the New York area. Rather than having Fried make a second minor league rehab start as originally planned, manager Aaron Boone moved him into the rotation for the makeup doubleheader to address a shortage of available starters ahead of the weekend series in Philadelphia. "With the rainout, if we go with Will Warren and Gerrit Cole today, it leaves us short a starter on the weekend," Boone said. "It just kind of made sense."

In the nightcap, Jasson Domínguez and Anthony Volpe drove in runs on consecutive pitches in the seventh inning to provide the margin of victory. Bubba Chandler pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings for Pittsburgh in his first scoreless outing of the season. Pittsburgh won the opener 5-3 in 10 innings, with Brandon Eisert providing relief in the nightcap after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 11.

Fried, a three-time All-Star who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with New York as a free agent after the 2024 season, had compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.21 ERA in 10 starts before the injury. He threw three innings in his only rehab outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Wednesday's doubleheader marked the first time Cole and Fried appeared in the rotation together this season. The Yankees have dealt with significant injuries to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Carlos Rodón, holding a record of 20-21 since Judge's last appearance on May 31.