Pete Alonso lined an RBI single off Max Fried on Wednesday night at Camden Yards, contributing to the Yankees’ ace exiting after just three innings with left elbow posterior soreness in New York’s 7-0 loss to the Orioles. Fried, who threw 61 pitches and scattered five hits with one walk and two strikeouts, walked directly to the visitors’ clubhouse after Alonso was tagged out between first and second base to end the third inning.
The outing continued a troubling stretch for Fried, who had permitted a season-high five runs to the Brewers in his previous start on May 8 in Milwaukee. The left-hander is in the second season of an eight-year, $218 million contract and entered the game leading the Majors with 61 2/3 innings pitched.
What Happened to Max Fried?
Fried was initially diagnosed with left elbow posterior soreness and is scheduled to be examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, with imaging set for Thursday in New York. The timing raises immediate concern for a Yankees rotation that has leaned heavily on its highest-paid pitcher. Fried’s inability to find his rhythm — a pattern that dates back at least to his Milwaukee outing — suggests this may not be a simple mechanical hiccup.
According to MLB.com, Fried seemed to struggle with command throughout his brief appearance, a departure from the pitcher who anchored the Yankees’ staff after signing the largest contract ever given to a left-handed pitcher. The $218 million deal runs through 2033, making any extended absence a significant blow to New York’s postseason aspirations.
Pete Alonso’s At-Bat and the Bigger Picture
Alonso‘s RBI single came during a third inning that also featured Coby Mayo’s run-scoring double and Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly off Fried. The first baseman’s ability to deliver against a pitcher of Fried’s caliber — even one clearly diminished — speaks to the kind of professional at-bat that doesn’t always show up in a box score but matters in the grind of a 162-game season.
Breaking down the advanced metrics, Alonso has historically been one of the most dangerous right-handed power bats in baseball. His career slugging percentage and isolated power numbers place him among the game’s elite run producers, and moments like Wednesday’s RBI single — driving in a run against a frontline starter on a night when the opposing ace was vulnerable — are exactly the kind of plate appearances that accumulate into the 90-to-100-RBI seasons that define his value.
Key Developments
- Fried leads the Major Leagues with 61 2/3 innings pitched this season, underscoring how much the Yankees have relied on his workload
- Fried permitted a season-high five runs in his previous start against the Brewers on May 8 in Milwaukee, marking back-to-back outings with diminished stuff
- Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad will examine Fried before imaging is conducted in New York on Thursday
- Alonso’s RBI single was one of five hits Fried allowed, along with one walk and two strikeouts over 61 pitches
- The Orioles scored three runs off Fried in his three innings of work, with Coby Mayo and Adley Rutschman also driving in runs
What’s Next for the Yankees and Fried?
The Yankees now face an anxious wait for imaging results that could determine whether Fried misses a single start or faces a more extended absence. For a team with legitimate World Series aspirations, losing even two or three starts from their ace could shift the AL East calculus significantly. New York’s front office brass will be monitoring the situation closely, and the organization’s depth — or lack thereof — in the rotation could become a defining storyline of the summer.
From Alonso’s perspective, the at-bat is a small but telling data point in what the Mets hope will be a bounce-back campaign for their franchise first baseman. After a down year by his standards in 2025, every quality at-bat against elite pitching builds the case that Alonso remains one of the most productive sluggers in the National League. The Mets’ lineup needs him to be exactly that if they intend to compete in an increasingly tough NL East.
The numbers suggest Fried’s recent struggles may be more than mechanical. When a pitcher of his caliber posts consecutive rough outings and then exits with elbow soreness, the concern is structural — literally. Thursday’s imaging will tell the story that the eye test already suspects.
What is wrong with Max Fried?
Max Fried was diagnosed with left elbow posterior soreness after exiting Wednesday’s start against the Orioles after three innings. He is scheduled for examination by Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and imaging in New York on Thursday.
How many pitches did Max Fried throw against the Orioles?
Fried threw 61 pitches over three innings, scattering five hits and one walk while striking out two batters before leaving with elbow soreness.
Did Pete Alonso get a hit off Max Fried?
Pete Alonso recorded an RBI single off Fried in the third inning at Camden Yards. Alonso was later tagged out between first and second base to end the inning, after which Fried walked off the field toward the clubhouse.
How long is Max Fried’s contract with the Yankees?
Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees, the largest deal ever given to a left-handed pitcher. He is in the second season of that contract, which runs through 2033.
What was Max Fried’s performance in his previous start?
In his outing on May 8 against the Brewers in Milwaukee, Fried permitted a season-high five runs, continuing a pattern of diminished command that carried into his start against the Orioles.