Yankees announce early return date for Max Fried

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Yankees announce early return date for Max Fried

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Jul 21, 2026 8:39 PM ET

After missing over two months of action while dealing and working back from an elbow injury, the New York Yankees are getting a major boost back to their starting rotation on Wednesday.

Max Fried is returning to the mound

According to announcement from the Yankees official X account on Tuesday, left-hander Max Fried will be forgoing his final rehab start and returning to a big-league mound on Wednesday night.

Fried will be starting Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates in what will be his first start since May 13.

Gerrit Cole. Game 1.
Max Fried. Game 2.
See you at The Stadium tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/mwtdCaWhkK
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 21, 2026

Max Fried struggled before heading to the injured list

After posting a 2.09 ERA through his first seven starts of the season, Fried struggled mightily in the month of May. In three starts, he went 14 1/3 innings, allowing 17 hits and 11 runs. Fried also walked seven batters in those 14 1/3 innings, just five fewer walks than he had in his first 47 1/3 innings he'd pitched to start the season.

The poor three-start stretch saw Fried's ERA for the month finish at 6.91 and season ERA increase from 2.09 to 3.21 in that span.

Can Max Fried be able to help a struggling Yankees staff?

Outside of Cy Young front-runner Cam Schlittler, the New York rotation has struggled in a major way this season. The return of Fried and his production level may very well decide how aggressive general manager Brian Cashman gets ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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