Yankees’ Max Fried Announces Injury Update After Leaving Cubs Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried is in his ninth MLB season, and his first with the New York Yankees.

The 31-year-old ace was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres but was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2014 and made his big-league debut in 2017.

Fried blossomed in Atlanta, earning two All-Star selections, two Gold Glove awards, and finishing top five in NL Cy Young voting twice. He also helped lead the Braves to their first World Series championship in more than two decades during the 2021 postseason.

As a result of his success, the Yankees signed him last offseason to an eight-year $218 million contract, making him the highest-paid left-hander in MLB history.

In his first season in the Bronx, Fried has taken over the rotation’s top spot after Gerrit Cole suffered a UCL tear in March.

On Saturday, during a game against the Chicago Cubs, he developed a blister on his left index finger and was removed after just three innings of work.

 After Sunday’s series finale, Fried said it’s still too early to say if he’ll pitch against his former team next weekend, though he noted the blister is “moving in the right direction” and “getting better.”

Max Fried said it’s still too soon to know if he’ll pitch against the #Braves next weekend, but his blister is moving in the “right direction” and “getting better.” #Yankees

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) July 13, 2025

Selected to his third All-Star team last week, Fried leads MLB with 11 wins. In 20 starts this season, he has posted a 2.43 ERA and recorded 113 strikeouts over 122 innings.

The southpaw has been a major factor for the Yankees, and any extended absence would hinder their second-half playoff push.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.