The spotlight shines squarely on Max Fried this Saturday as he dons the iconic pinstripes for his inaugural start with the Yankees. The moment carries extra weight as Fried steps into the rotation void created by Gerrit Cole’s season-ending injury, shouldering the expectations that accompany his historic eight-year, $218 million contract – the largest ever awarded to a left-handed hurler.
“There’s obviously a flood of emotions,” Fried admitted before Opening Day. “I’m really excited to get out there in Yankee Stadium for the first time, but also trying to ground myself.”
On the other side, once Bronx favorite Nestor Cortes will lead the Brewers against his former team. His emotions have struck right chord with the fans, and the legend of “Nasty Nestor” has its discovery at Yankee Stadium. He is ready to pit his emotions in this return to his previous place of play.
Max Fried is ready to lead Yankees
The 31-year-old brings impressive credentials to the Bronx – a World Series championship, two All-Star selections, and a comprehensive seven-pitch arsenal. With Cole sidelined following Tommy John surgery, Fried’s importance to the rotation has magnified exponentially.
“Whether [Cole] was pitching in the rotation or not, it doesn’t really change what I have to do at the end of the day,” Fried said. “When it is my time to take the ball, I have to be myself and go out there and win the ball game.”
Fried has quickly embraced the Yankees’ meticulous approach. “Everyone is very diligent, very thorough,” he said. “It’s a little different than down in Tampa, but you feel that buzz and kind of excitement.”
Saturday’s contest against Milwaukee promises a packed house, with Fried expecting a personal cheering section of 15-20 family members and friends. Adding intrigue to the matchup, former Yankee favorite Nestor Cortes takes the mound for the Brewers, creating a compelling narrative for the afternoon clash.
Cortes returns to familiar territory
Nestor Cortes knows every inch of Yankee Stadium’s mound – though this time, he’ll approach from the visitors’ side.
Shipped to Milwaukee during the offseason in the deal that brought closer Devin Williams to New York, Cortes faces his former teammates for the first time since departing. The 2022 All-Star and fan darling developed his identity during four-plus seasons in pinstripes.
“Thinking back on how my career was there, they watched me grow up,” Cortes said. “I became who I became with the Yankees. Ten, 20, 30 years down the line, I can talk about how good the experience was here and how happy I was.”
True to character, Cortes returns with flair. Liberated from the Yankees’ strict grooming policy, he sports a beard and platinum-purple-tinged hair. “With the Yankees, it was tough to bend the rules a little bit,” he joked.
Cortes carved his niche through deception rather than velocity – a crafty lefty utilizing every possible method to retire batters. Despite battling a late-season flexor strain last year, he rushed back for postseason duty, with his final Yankee pitch coming against Freddie Freeman in the World Series.
Cortes acknowledged that the outcome wasn’t what they had hoped for, but emphasized that he could still take many positives from the experience.
Mutual admiration between dugouts
The Yankees maintain a profound respect for Cortes. Manager Aaron Boone expressed genuine affection, highlighting how Cortes reached out during spring training inquiring about J.C. Escarra, his childhood friend now with New York.
“I love Nestor Cortes,” Boone said. Brewers skipper Pat Murphy echoed the sentiment: “I love the kid.”
Now representing Milwaukee, Cortes remains composed about facing former teammates. When asked if pitching against the Yankees might inspire him to get more creative with his delivery, Cortes grinned. “We’ll see.”
Key elements for Game 2
- Fried’s debut performance: How will the new Yankees ace handle his first Bronx appearance?
- Cortes versus familiar faces: Will the Yankees’ familiarity provide an advantage, or will Cortes’ unorthodox approach prevail?
- Yankees youth movement: Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Ben Rice look to build on Game 1 momentum.
- Stanton’s lineup absence: With the slugger continuing rehabilitation, DH responsibilities rotate among Rice, Judge, and others.
The bigger picture
Saturday’s matchup transcends the ordinary early-season contest – it represents transitions, expectations, and legacies intertwined. For Fried, it marks the beginning of a Bronx chapter filled with promise. For Cortes, it offers a bittersweet return to the stage where he became beloved.
For Yankees faithful, Opening Weekend serves as a reminder that baseball carries emotional weight beyond box scores – connecting past achievements with future possibilities in the continual narrative of America’s pastime.
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