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Are the New York Yankees finally finding their ace? One month into the MLB season, Max Fried's extraordinary performance has transformed him into a pivotal part of the Yankees’ pitching staff. After signing an impressive eight-year, $218 million contract, Fried has been everything the Yankees hoped for and more.
For the Tampa Bay Rays, facing Fried has become a daunting challenge. He has silenced their lineup not once, but twice in just twelve days. In their most recent meeting, Fried's mastery was on full display at Yankee Stadium, as he limited the Rays to just one hit—a clean single by José Caballero—over seven innings, striking out six batters in the process. This feat epitomizes his dominance on the mound.
Rays manager Kevin Cash remarked, "Look, he's done it to every team. Certainly with us he's probably been at his best, but he's really good." Fried’s ability to execute pitches with precision has made him a nightmare for opposing hitters.
After Friday’s performance, Fried improved to 6-0 with an astounding 1.01 ERA. The Yankees have won all seven of his starts this season, and the difference in team performance is glaring: they hold a 12-13 record when anyone else takes the mound. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Fried is only the third pitcher in MLB history to record at least six wins while maintaining an ERA below 1.01 in their first seven starts with a new team, joining legends like Fernando Valenzuela and Dave "Boo" Ferriss.
In his first month with the Yankees, Fried has shown an impressive ability to limit runs, allowing two earned runs or fewer in every start and only one earned run or fewer in five appearances. His prowess against the Rays has left them struggling significantly. Against Fried, Tampa Bay batters have managed a meager 3-for-45 record, which includes only one hard-hit ball, a testament to Fried's exceptional pitching skills.
Cash observed that Fried's success stems from his effective mixing of pitches. "He’s got really good stuff, great pitchability... Every pitch that he had, he seemed to throw with a lot of conviction where it needed to go," he said. This pitch variety allows Fried to keep hitters guessing and off-balance, contributing to his remarkable performance.
Unfortunately for the Rays, their struggles extend beyond Fried. They currently sit at 14-18, having lost four consecutive games and scoring only three runs during this losing streak. Their offensive production has significantly waned, particularly against left-handed pitchers, with Tampa Bay holding the second-lowest batting average against southpaws in the MLB at .187.
Rays players are showing visible frustration. Cash noted, "A lot of frustration. And I get it, because we’re all confident that we’re better than maybe what we’ve performed the last four or five games. But that doesn’t make it feel any better. It’s going to take one of those big hits to open some things up." This sentiment reflects the team's need to break out of their current slump and regain confidence.
As the season progresses, the Yankees' reliance on Fried becomes increasingly apparent. His versatility and dominance on the mound provide the Yankees with a competitive edge, while the Rays will need to find ways to counteract this left-handed juggernaut. The road ahead won’t be easy for Tampa Bay, but with the right adjustments, they still have the potential to reclaim their offensive prowess and shake off their recent misfortunes.
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