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BALTIMORE — Max Fried turned in the most commanding performance of his Yankees career Thursday night, shutting out the Baltimore Orioles over seven innings while tying his career high with 13 strikeouts. The 31-year-old left-hander’s brilliance carried New York to a 7-0 win at Camden Yards and underlined why the club made him their top free agent signing last offseason.
Max Fried worked with sharp command, mixing all seven pitches in his arsenal. Baltimore hitters whiffed 28 times on just 45 swings, managing only three singles and one walk. He needed only 87 pitches to complete his outing.
“He’s an ace, so he pitches like that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s had a phenomenal year to this point.”
The 13-strikeout effort matched Fried’s previous personal best, set last June with Atlanta against Boston at Fenway Park.
Career milestones pile up in Fried’s breakout season
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Fried’s night against the Orioles added to what has become a career-defining season. The win gave him 18 on the year, the most in his career and the first pitcher in the majors to reach that mark in 2025.
The strikeout tally pushed his season total to 182, another new high. His 31 starts and 188.1 innings also stand as career bests, showing durability for a pitcher whose past seasons were interrupted by injuries.
“I had no idea how many strikeouts I had,” Fried said. “I was out there just pitching. I didn’t realize until I came out of the game.”
Fried now owns an 18-5 record with a 2.92 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He leads the majors in wins, ranks 10th in ERA, and is tied for 16th in WHIP. His 182 strikeouts also place him tied for 16th, while opponents are batting only .224 against him.
Remarkable turnaround from mid-season struggles
The dominance is even more striking given how low Fried’s season dipped in midsummer. From early July through mid-August, he endured an eight-start slump in which he carried a 6.80 ERA.
“I think anytime you go through a rough patch, if you learn from it and you’re able to make an adjustment, there’s a bright side to it,” Fried said. “Obviously, I wish I didn’t go through it. Not ideal, you want to go out there and win games, not put the team in a hole or give up leads.”
Since then, he has rediscovered his form. Over his last six starts, Fried is 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA, showing flashes of the same dominance that made him one of baseball’s best left-handers in Atlanta.
Changeup becomes devastating weapon
Fried’s entire arsenal was sharp Thursday, but his changeup stood out. Orioles hitters swung at it 10 times and missed eight, a rate that left them off balance all night.
“Best changeup he’s probably had all year,” Boone said. “Stuff was really good. Just really in control of the game.”
That pitch worked in tandem with his fastball, slider, curveball, sweeper, cutter, and sinker. Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino could only tip his cap.
“He painted,” Mansolino said. “I looked at a few of the pitches on the iPad, just trying to figure out what he was doing so differently. That catcher’s setting up on the black, and he’s hitting the glove most of the night. That is an ace right there, without a doubt.”
Fried struck out every member of Baltimore’s starting lineup except Gunnar Henderson, further proof of how untouchable he was.
Physical condition drives late-season surge
AP Photo/LM Otero
The turnaround is rooted in Fried’s health and confidence. Earlier in the year, his command wavered and his approach became tentative. Now, he is trusting his arm and pitching with conviction.
“I’m feeling really good physically,” Fried said. “I feel like I did toward the beginning of the year; just changing speeds, trying to get deep into games and trying to win games.”
Rather than nibbling at the edges, Fried is challenging hitters. He is also trusting the defense behind him to handle contact.
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“Just sticking to my strengths; I’ve got a lot of pitches, I mix speeds a lot and I’m leaning into that,” Fried said. “I trust in the defense behind me. They’re making some really nice plays and giving me the confidence that if I throw the ball over the plate, the out is going to get made.”
Contract validation in debut season
The Yankees bet heavily on Fried last winter, signing him to an eight-year, $218 million deal despite concerns about his injury history. So far, that investment looks secure.
His ERA of 2.92 represents a strong recovery from the 3.26 he carried during his rough stretch. Fried’s career-high innings and starts show a commitment to staying healthy and available for the club’s playoff run.
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“I feel like he’s in a real good spot. He’s throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “He went through a little lull there in the middle of the season and kind of dug himself out of that. Hopefully, going through stuff like that, you learn things and it allows you to make adjustments that you need to make, and he’s done that.”
As October approaches, Fried is positioned to be the Yankees’ likely Game 1 starter. His return to ace-level form gives New York the kind of frontline arm that defines championship contenders.
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