Max Fried is in the midst of his worst stretch in an otherwise solid first season of an eight-year contract with the New York Yankees.
On Tuesday night, the Yankees hope to see the version of Fried they saw for most of the first three months when they continue a four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
Fried will take the mound after the Yankees absorbed their fourth loss in five games by getting six hits in a 4-2 setback to Tampa Bay. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon drew bases-loaded walks in the first inning for the only runs for the Yankees, who struck out 10 times.
“We weren’t able to mount enough,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Fried (11-4, 2.62 ERA) has pitched once since July 12 because he’s recovering from a blister, The left-hander exited his start against the Chicago Cubs after three innings on his left index finger and did not start against until Wednesday, when he allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-4 loss to Toronto.
“Coming in, first start off the break for me, I just wanted to make sure I put us in a good position,” Fried said after last week. “Left the lead up early and frankly, just didn’t do my job tonight. Walking guys definitely isn’t going to help. And throwing the ball away and having two more come in — especially battling and letting it go — is frustrating. For me, that can’t happen.”
Fried has lost consecutive starts for the first time since late September while pitching for the Atlanta Braves.
Fried is 4-0 with an 0.32 ERA in four career starts against the Rays. He scattered three hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter over 14 2/3 scoreless innings in a pair of outings against Tampa Bay earlier this season.
The Rays collected 11 hits on Monday and broke a four-game losing streak to improve to 8-18 in their past 26 games. Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer, and the Rays survived going 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11.
Caminero homered after going 1-for-12 in the weekend series at Cincinnati.
Josh Lowe had the tiebreaking single in the fifth inning on Monday.
“Right now every hit with guys on base, it matters,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ve grinded through it a little bit, haven’t found success, but today we did and the guys are pumped.”
Right-hander Joe Boyle (1-0, 1.42 ERA) will make his second start for Tampa Bay and first since allowing two unearned runs on no hits in five innings in an 8-3 win over the Braves on April 13. Boyle has allowed four runs (three earned) in four relief appearances this season.
Boyle’s only start against the Yankees occurred on April 24, 2024, in New York when he allowed two runs on three hits and walked four in three innings during a 7-3 loss for the Athletics.