Pressure is On For Struggling Yankees Starter

The New York Yankees kicked off their high-stakes showdown with the Boston Red Sox with a 6-3 loss. In game two, they'll hope to regain their footing, and they'll need starting pitcher Max Fried to be in fighting form.

Fried, whose first half earned him an All Star selection, has struggled mightily in recent weeks.

“At this point, every game I pitch, I’m trying to get on track again so that I’m pitching to my standards and what I’m capable of,’’ Fried said before the first game of this series, per the New York Post. “We’ve been playing really good baseball as a team. For me, it’s my time to start lifting my load and being able to do my part.”

“It’s definitely frustrating. I want to be able to take the ball and put us in a good position to win every time and I haven’t been able to do that. I have to understand that I’ve got to do something different. We’re in the business of getting it done and I’ve just got to figure out how to get those results.”

Fried had an outstanding 1.92 ERA after the first two months of the season. A new addition to the Yankees this season, Fried had enjoyed an impressive career with the Atlanta Braves from 2017-2024, earning two previous All Star selections (2022, 2024) and a World Series win in 2021. With his resume and talents, the 31-year-old lefty knows what he's capable of, but may be fighting an internal battle at the moment.

Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Over his last seven starts, Fried is 3-3 with a 6.94 ERA. If he can get his head in the game, and the offense can come up with the kind of run support they gave Carlos Rodon in their recent brutal beatdown of the Rays, the Yankees' hot streak may not be over just yet.

With one loss under their belt already, the heat is on for the AL East second-place Yanks, and they've let pitching get in the way time and time again this season. With relatively few options left after a litany of pitcher injuries, Fried will need to keep a cool head under a whole lot of pressure.

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