The Yankees Have Already Found A New Ace

When the New York Yankees signed Max Fried to an 8-year, $218 million contract this winter, they expected him to be a solid No. 2 starter. Not only has he been all they could’ve asked for and more, but he’s also been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball thus far. Establishing himself as the ace of the Yankees’ rotation, Fried is almost making everyone forget about Gerrit Cole’s absence.

New Ace on the Block

In March, Cole underwent Tommy John surgery and learned he would be out for the entirety of 2025. This was, and is still, devastating news for the Yankees, who could’ve had one of the best rotations in the majors with a healthy Cole. But Fried’s emergence into the number one starter role, while not too surprising, has also been a blessing for the Yankees’ rotation. After Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, New York’s starters have a combined ERA of 4.15, good for 19th in the majors. Of the 67 earned runs given up by Yankee starters, a mere 5 have come from Fried.

That’s not where the story ends, either. Fried is the only Yankee pitcher with more than 3 wins (Carlos Rodon, Tim Hill), and he has 5 in 6 starts (almost making it 6 in his first start against Milwaukee, when he was just a single out away from qualifying for the win). The 31-year-old has also pitched 37 2/3 innings, 3rd in MLB behind Luis Severino (38 2/3) and Seth Lugo (38). The point is that Fried has given the Yankees a chance to win every game he’s pitched so far, and he’s been dominant while doing so.

Good, But Not Great?

Interestingly, Fried’s incredible start may be in part thanks to a little bit of luck. Baseball Savant says many of his analytical stats have worsened since 2024. His chase, whiff, and hard-hit rates are down from what they were, not significantly, but enough to be noticeable. But the most noteworthy of these stats is his ground ball rate, which is down to 50.0% compared to 59.2% in ’24. At first glance, this would be alarming, considering Yankee Stadium isn’t necessarily a pitcher-friendly park. So, how could Fried have an ERA of 1.43 (276 ERA+) with a 5-0 record when he isn’t getting hitters to miss his pitches as much as usual?

Mound Mentality

According to his catcher, Austin Wells, it’s likely because of his mindset on the mound. After the Yankees 11-2 win over the Blue Jays in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the sophomore backstopper was asked about Fried’s excellent start, responding with “I think there’s an inning of every start for the most part that he gets through and then he rolls after that,” Wells said. “Whether it’s the beginning, middle, or end, he gets through it, and I think that’s why he’s had so much success and has great numbers to start the year.”

Wells would be correct in his assessment of why Fried has been so good. It’s because he is one of those pitchers who grinds through games, and he doesn’t lose his cool when things begin to get out of hand. Take his start against the Kansas City Royals on April 15, for example. After surrendering a home run to MJ Melendez and an RBI double to Bobby Witt Jr in the 3rd inning that gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead, Fried locked in and gave the Yankees 3 more scoreless innings, and they ended up securing a 4-2 win. Compared to Rodon, whose bad outings this season have typically resulted from being unable to escape that “one bad inning”, Fried’s mentality on the mound is what elevates his game to the next level, even if he’s not mechanically at his very best.

Saving Grace

It’s hard to imagine what state the Yankees’ rotation would be in if it weren’t for Fried. The left-hander has actually put together one of the best starts to a career in pinstripes ever. According to AlBat.com, Fried has become just the fifth pitcher in franchise history to rack up at least 4 wins and an ERA under 1.50 in his first five appearances with the club since ERA became an official stat in 1913. If this start indicates what is to come for Fried’s career in the Bronx, the Yankees may have one of the best starters in the game in their arsenal for years to come.