Max Fried Builds All-Star Case as Aaron Boone Weighs Starter Options

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 12:12 AM ET

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried became the first pitcher in baseball to reach 10 wins this season. And with the All-Star Game headed to Atlanta—where Fried came up through the Braves system—you don’t have to squint too hard to see where this is going.

Fried, however, isn’t looking that far ahead.

“I’ve got a handful of starts to go before the All-Star break,” Fried told reporters. “Right now, I’m not really looking that far ahead. A lot can happen between now and then.”

Of course, the man managing the American League squad is Aaron Boone.

“That’s down the road—we’ll see,” Boone said when asked if Fried would get the nod. “He’s making a case, though.”

Tuesday night in Cincinnati only strengthened it. Fried allowed one run on four hits, struck out seven, and didn’t walk a batter. More importantly, he gave the Yankees seven innings. With Jonathan Loaisiga unavailable and the bullpen gassed, Fried delivered exactly what they needed: innings, efficiency, and a stop to a two-game skid.

This is what the Yankees paid $218 million for. With Gerrit Cole out for the season, Fried has stepped into the ace role without blinking.

He’s now 10–2 with a 1.92 ERA, 104 strikeouts, and a 0.94 WHIP over 108 innings, leading MLB in wins and ranking top-10 in nearly every key category.

But the All-Star start isn’t guaranteed.

Tarik Skubal, last year’s AL Cy Young winner, is right there at 9–2 with a 2.29 ERA, 125 strikeouts, and the league’s best WHIP at 0.87. Garrett Crochet, the breakout lefty in Boston, is 7–4 with a 2.06 ERA, a league-leading 135 strikeouts, and a 1.02 WHIP across 109.1 innings.

The decision will come down to numbers, narrative, and maybe a bit of sentiment.

In a summer showcase set in his old baseball home, Fried may be the most fitting choice of all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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