Yankees Notes: Fried, Bellinger, Judge

There was understandable concern in the Bronx when the Yankees placed Max Fried on the 15-day injured list yesterday. The diagnosis of an elbow bone bruise was the same as the one that cost the left-hander two months earlier in the season. Fortunately, the organization does not anticipate a comparable absence this time around. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters that the team is hopeful for a minimal stay, framing the transaction as largely precautionary after an MRI revealed only low-level inflammation.

Max Fried Injury and Rotation Depth

According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Fried reported discomfort following his start against the Mariners, where he allowed one run on five hits and two walks over five innings in a 1-0 defeat at Yankee Stadium. Speaking to reporters after that outing, Fried described the night as a grind and noted that he didn’t necessarily have my best stuff.

The 32-year-old left-hander had made five starts since returning from a previous IL stint on July 22, surrendering just five runs across 24 2/3 innings for a 1.82 ERA. In his second season of an eight-year, $218 million contract, Fried holds a 4-4 record with a 2.81 ERA across 15 starts and 86 1/3 innings. During his earlier absence, Fried described the sensation in his elbow as akin to hitting the joint repeatedly on a table.

Carlos Rodón Steps In as Rotation Adjusts

The Yankees hold a five-game deficit behind the Rays in the AL East but remain secure in a Wild Card position, affording them the luxury of caution. Carlos Rodón is ready as a plug-and-play replacement in the starting rotation, marking his first big league appearance since June 28 with a pitch count limited to roughly 55 pitches. Will Warren is slated to start the second game of the series on Wednesday, with Gerrit Cole following on Thursday.

He was close to being able to make his next start, but we’re just trying to be a little bit cautious here and manage this thing as we get down the stretch, Boone explained regarding Fried. The team envisions a healthy eventual rotation featuring Cole, Fried, Rodón, Cam Schlittler, and either Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.

Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge Rehab Updates

Relief could soon arrive for an offense that has scored fewer runs than all American League teams except the Mariners since June. Cody Bellinger is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, putting him on track to return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered on July 25. Bellinger’s impending activation would land at the early end of his initial four-to-six-week timetable.

Bellinger emphasized the resilience required to navigate a grueling campaign in a competitive division. It’s kind of been like that all year. We’ve been fighting all year, battling injuries. Nothing’s ever going to be handed to you, so you’ve just got to keep on going. Especially in this division, you’ve got to show up every day and win, no matter what happens, he said. He also praised the organization’s roster construction: The good thing about this organization is the depth. We have a lot of arms that are talented and can win a lot of baseball games. It speaks to the depth that we have, and hopefully we get it back at the right time.

Meanwhile, the timeline for three-time MVP Aaron Judge continues to trend forward. Following a diagnosis of a rib stress fracture in June, Boone confirmed that Judge is advancing to a hitting progression this week. While the club has not established a definitive return date, optimism remains high that the outfielder will rejoin the active lineup before the conclusion of the regular season.