Max Fried dazzles in dominating return to Yankees rotation

The New York Yankees were 2-0 winners over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, splitting a double-header after the Pirates took Game 1 earlier in the day. While the outcome is positive for the Yankees to get the split, the big story was how they got the win.

The biggest driving force behind it was a dominant start from Max Fried in his return to the rotation for the first time in over two months.

Max Fried dominates in return to Yankees rotation

Before Wednesday, Fried had not started a game for the Yankees since late May when he was sidelined with an elbow issue. That injury was preceded by three of his worst starts of the season, and it was clear something was bothering him.

But after missing some time, and getting one rehab start, he returned on Wednesday and gave the Yankees everything they wanted to see.

He was clearly on a strict pitch count and threw only 57 pitches over five innings, but he was sensational in those five innings.

He allowed just one hit, walked only one batter, and struck out seven while allowing zero runs.

The only hit he allowed was a lead-off single to Nick Gonzales, only to have him erased at second base when Gonzales tried to stretch it into a double.

After walking Esmerlyn Valdez to lead off the second inning, he retired the next 12 batters he faced to end his night.

Even though Wednesday ended up being a split of the doubleheader, it still had to be a pleasant sight for the Yankees to see both Gerrit Cole and Fried in the same rotation — and both on the mound. When healthy, that duo can be (and should be) one of the best in baseball and should give them the upper-hand in almost any short series. 

If they can just get Aaron Judge, and perhaps even Giancarlo Stanton, back into the lineup before the playoffs, this would be a really formidable contender in the American League.