With less than a month to go before the All-Star Game, Max Fried has to like his chances of starting it.
The lefty has been sensational in his first 17 starts for the Yankees, going 10-2 with a 1.92 ERA for a team that lost a Cy Young winner, Gerrit Cole, to Tommy John surgery in spring training. Fried became the majors’ first 10-game winner on Wednesday, allowing just one earned run over seven innings while walking one and striking out seven as the Yankees salvaged a series against the Reds with a 7-1 victory.
“Ten wins in half a season is not easy to do in any era, especially now,” Aaron Boone said, per the YES Network. “It’s just a testament to how good he’s been and how efficient he’s been. Needless to say, he’s been enormous for us.”
As the skipper of a 2024 pennant-winner, Boone has the honor of managing the American League in this year’s All-Star Game. The exhibition will take place on July 15 at Truist Park, the home of the Braves.
Fried spent the first eight years of his big league career in Atlanta. Having him start the Midsummer Classic on the mound he used to call home would be a no-brainer, right?
“Oh, that’s down the road,” said Boone, who gets to make that call. “We’ll see. Making a case though.”
Fried, who only trailed Houston’s Hunter Brown in ERA (1.88) entering Thursday, took a similar stance when asked what a start in this particular All-Star Game would mean to him.
“I’ve got a handful of starts to go before the All-Star break,” Fried said, per YES. “Right now, at this time, I’m not really looking forward to that far ahead. A lot can happen between now and then.”
A two-time All-Star with the Braves, Fried has already enjoyed a homecoming experience in the annual showdown between the Senior and Junior Circuits.
He was on the National League roster in 2022, when the game was played at Dodger Stadium. Fried went to high school nearby, shining for Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.
However, Fried didn’t get to pitch in that game. He made his All-Star debut last season, throwing a scoreless inning at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field after then-Pirates rookie Paul Skenes got the start for the NL.
Now Fried is poised to start the All-Star Game — should he maintain his current pace — at his old stomping grounds while surrounded by his current manager, coaches and what’s sure to be a few teammates.
He’s not ready to think about that, though.
“I’m really just focused on my next one in five or six days and being able to take the ball and try to compete and win another game,” Fried said. “I’ll deal with it when it gets there.”
