Fried returning to Yanks, set to start Game 2 of doubleheader vs. Bucs

Max Fried will return from the injured list to start Game 2 of the Yankees' doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2026, earlier than originally anticipated. Fried had been sidelined since May 14 with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow and made one rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, allowing two runs in three innings across 52 pitches. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 3.21 ERA and a 4-3 record before the injury, and his return is a boost for a Yankees team that has gone 21-21 since Aaron Judge last played on May 31.