ATLANTA – After eight seasons with the Braves, Max Fried hoped to pitch the Yankees’ series-opener at Truist Park on Friday.
Instead, the ace spent part of his pregame routine talking about the blister that forced him to make an early exit in his last start before the All-Star break. The southpaw said the bleb, located on his left index finger, is “progressing well,” but he still has “some boxes to check.” With that in mind and blisters an issue throughout Fried’s career, he and the Yankees wanted to give the pitcher some more time.
“If you speed it up, there’s a chance that it comes back quicker,” Fried said. “But if you handle it right, normally you can just go on without any issues.”
Fried added that he’s “hopeful” he’ll pitch in Toronto next week. Aaron Boone called the possibility “very realistic.”
“I’m definitely looking to get back as soon as possible,” said Fried, who hasn’t stopped throwing.
He added that he hasn’t thrown a bullpen since the blister popped up, but he’s felt good playing catch. Fried is focused on not only getting his skin to heal, but also on making it calloused so that he’s less susceptible to blisters in the summer heat.
With Fried still healing, the Yankees planned on having Cam Schlittler make his second big league start on Friday. However, he dealt with some “upper arm soreness” over the break, Boone said.
The Yankees believe the 24-year-old is fine following some clean tests, including an MRI, and the expectation is he will pitch in Toronto. Boone didn’t think the soreness, in the right biceps area, had anything to do with Schlittler overthrowing in his debut on July 9.
With Fried and Schlittler unable to pitch, Ian Hamilton got the “start” on Friday.
The reliever posted a 3.47 ERA over 36.1 innings. While Hamilton has been solid lately, he’s mostly been used in low-leverage situations following some early-season struggles.
Friday marked Hamilton’s first appearance as an opener this season. He did the job three times for the Yankees in 2023.
When asked why the Yankees didn’t use one of their other starters instead of Hamilton, Boone said they wanted to give Will Warren, scheduled to pitch Saturday, a sixth day of rest coming out of the break. Meanwhile, Marcus Stroman, slated to pitch on Sunday, had already scheduled his side sessions accordingly.
Carlos Rodón is scheduled to start Monday in Toronto after appearing in the All-Star Game this past Tuesday.
The Yankees considered calling someone up for Friday’s game, but they ultimately didn’t. Boone added the plan was for a straight bullpen game, with newcomer Rico Garcia and former starter JT Brubaker able to provide “a little bit of length.”
“We’ll have to piece it together,” Boone said.
Gil’s Plans
Boone said the Yankees aren’t going to rush Luis Gil’s (lat) rehab assignment despite their short- and long-term rotation injuries, which also includes Clarke Schmidt’s recent Tommy John surgery.
Gil was scheduled to throw about 57 pitches Friday night for Double-A Somerset. His next start would likely come Wednesday at Triple-A. If that goes well, the club could activate him, though it’s possible Gil’s assignment continues from there.
Injury Updates
Boone said Fernando Cruz (oblique) could start playing catch as soon as this weekend after imaging showed “quite a bit of healing.” Boone said it’s possible Cruz returns in August.
Mark Leiter Jr. (leg fracture) could get back on the mound in Toronto for a touch-and-feel bullpen session. He’ll then be re-imaged in New York. If that goes well, he could throw a full bullpen session by next weekend.
Ryan Yarbrough (oblique) is taking a bit longer than expected. He hasn’t gotten on the mound yet but is throwing.
