For the first time in 581 days, Gerrit Cole and Max Fried took the mound together on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, a day marked by both triumph and frustration for the New York Yankees. While Fried led the Yanks to a 2-0 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader, Cole's efforts in the opener fell short, as the Pirates won that game 5-3 in 10 innings.
Fried, returning from a left elbow bone bruise, pitched five shutout innings in the night game, allowing just one hit and striking out seven. His performance was aided by strong defensive plays, especially a key catch by Cody Bellinger. Manager Aaron Boone called it 'as good as he's looked all year,' noting Fried's improved mechanics and command.
Cole's return, stalled by injuries
Cole, who had come off a 14-month rehab following Tommy John surgery, started the opener, striking out 11 Pirates batters in seven innings without walking any. But two early homers proved costly. The Yankees' offense, missing stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, failed to produce runs in either game, a troubling pattern for their playoff chances.
Cole said he had been eager to pitch alongside Fried since the Yankees signed him in December 2024. 'I missed him all year and we played keep away, I guess, so far this year,' he joked. It took a bit too long for both of our tastes.'
The long wait for a rotation to gel
Fried had been on the injured list for two months with a left elbow bruise, delaying his return to the rotation. The rainout in the Yankees’ previous doubleheader forced a reshuffling that finally allowed the two starters to face the same opponent in the same week. Fried had even approached manager Aaron Boone during a strategy meeting to pitch, saying, 'If you want me to pitch, I'm ready.'
His rehab work focused on refining his mechanics, and it showed in his performance. Fried reached 57 of his 60-pitch limit in the nightcap, keeping the Pirates off balance with his arsenal of pitches. That was a welcome contrast to his June performance in Baltimore, where he struggled and was diagnosed with the elbow injury.
Meanwhile, other members of the rotation are still recovering. Carlos Rodon returned to throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday, and Clarke Schmidt made his second live appearance since undergoing surgery. The Yankees remain hopeful that Judge and Stanton will return before the trade deadline, which is 12 days away.
A split and a plan for the weekend
The Yankees took the second game but lost the first, splitting the doubleheader. Manager Aaron Boone adjusted the weekend rotation as a result. Starter Will Warren, who threw 16 pitches in Wednesday's ninth inning, moved to Sunday’s game. Schlittler and Ryan Weathers, starting on normal rest, will now open Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia.
Boone's rotation changes came with a bit of uncertainty. Warren, tasked with ending the nightcap, allowed two runners to reach base. Tim Hill ended it with a caught fly ball after a replay review confirmed the call at first base. It was a messy end to a day filled with high hopes and mixed results.
Still, the sight of Cole and Fried pitching back-to-back gave the Yankees' fans a glimpse of what could come in October. For now, they must wait and hope the offense steps up before the season turns into another long October dream.