With rotation in flux, Yankees relying on Max Fried as he prepares to face Tigers

Considering all the rotation injuries they’ve dealt with, the New York Yankees need Max Fried to have a big year. His last outing provided a glimpse of what Fried could do every fifth game.

Fried held Pittsburgh to one run in 5 2/3 innings on Friday. He’ll look to at least duplicate that start against streaking Detroit in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.

The Tigers have won five straight, including a 5-0 shutout on Tuesday.

Fried signed a hefty eight-year, $218 million contract as a free agent in mid-December. With ace Gerrit Cole out for the season and Luis Gil sidelined for at least a chunk of the season, Fried will need to carry the starting staff.

His Yankees debut against Milwaukee on March 29 didn’t go well. He gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, though only two of the runs were earned. His outing against the Pirates, which included six strikeouts, was more to his liking.

“I just felt like it was a little bit more of my game,” Fried said. “I was able to execute some pitches. The fastball down and in was really good (Friday). When I’m throwing that fastball in, it just opens up everything else.”

Fried (1-0) got a no-decision against the Brewers as his teammates scored 20 runs. The Yankees won Friday’s contest, 9-4.

“It takes a lot off me, where I know I can be a little more aggressive and go after guys,” Fried said of the run support. “At that point, when they’re swinging the bats well, your job is just to try getting into the dugout as quick as possible.”

Fried has faced the Tigers just once in his career; he held them to one run in 5 1/3 innings last June.

Jack Flaherty (1-0) will make his third start of the season for Detroit. His last outing was similar to Fried’s second start, as he limited the Chicago White Sox to one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings Friday. Flaherty also recorded seven strikeouts in Detroit’s home opener.

Flaherty re-signed with the Tigers after being traded last season to the Los Angeles Dodgers and earning a World Series ring.

“It was great to be back here,” Flaherty said. “These (fans) showed up and it was awesome. Gave me some goosebumps with the pregame intros. It was great to be back on this side.”

Flaherty has faced the Yankees just once in the regular season in his career, tossing six shutout innings in July 2023. He faced them twice in the World Series last fall, holding them to two runs in 5 1/3 innings in Game 1. He got just four outs in Game 5 while giving up four runs, including two homers.

Aaron Judge had one of those long balls, but he has gone the last four games without a homer after blasting six in the first seven games.

Detroit has hit five homers in the series, including four on Tuesday.

“It was nice that our guys got the ball in the air to the pull side,” manager A.J. Hinch said.

–Field Level Media