Max Fried

32-Year-Old PitcherSP

New York Yankees

15-Day IL

Injury Elbow

Est. Return 6/16/2026

2026 Stats

W-L

4-3

ERA

3.21

WHIP

1.01

Rest-of-Season Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

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2026 Fantasy Outlook

Someone forgot to tell Fried that free agents are supposed to struggle in their first season in a new market. Instead, Fried had the best full season of his career, setting career bests in innings pitched, wins, starts and strikeouts. Fried was the ace the Yankees needed with the offseason loss of Gerrit Cole, as Fried won 59 percent of his starts while his 20 quality starts were the third-highest total in the league. Fried tweaked his repertoire to take the cutter from his least-used pitch of 2024 to his favorite pitch in 2025. Fried is now throwing seven different pitch types to both rightes and lefties, making him incredibly tough to predict or square up as his .222 opponents' average and 14 homers on the season attest. The forearm neuritis that gave everyone a scare in 2024 is well in the rearview mirror, but blisters have occasionally popped up with him, which truly is the only risk with this lefty. He does not have the elite velocity of other aces, but few execute their craft as well as Fried did in 2025. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

Rest of Season

Overall Rank

Dynasty

From Preseason

#54

ADP

League Majors

Bats L

Throws L

40 Man Yes

Height 6'4"

Weight 190

DOB 1/18/1994

Born Santa Monica, CA

College None

Drafted 1st Rd 2012 SD

Starts throwing Monday

PNew York Yankees

Elbow

May 25, 2026

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Fried (elbow) played catch Monday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Analysis
Boone also revealed that Fried underwent follow-up imaging on his left elbow, which showed "nothing really that would say he can start the ramp-up process yet," per Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Fried will be brought along slowly, as he'll take part in light catch initially before upping the intensity of his throwing. The left-hander remains several weeks away from rejoining the big-league rotation.

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Pitching Stats

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2026 MLB Game Log

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2024

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2021

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Pitching Appearances Breakdown

Average Pitch Count

Last 10 Games

Last 5 Games

How many pitches does Max Fried generally throw?

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

What part of the game does Max Fried generally pitch?

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

% Games Reaching Innings Threshold

% Games By Number of Innings Pitched

Left/Right Pitching Splits

Since 2024

-12%

BAA vs RHP

2026

-31%

BAA vs LHP

2025

-8%

BAA vs LHP

2024

-38%

BAA vs RHP

	BAA	Batters	K	BB	H	2B	3B	HR
Since 2024vs Left	.244	395	105	27	87	9	2	13
Since 2024vs Right	.214	1359	300	100	266	42	6	15
2026vs Left	.148	57	12	2	8	2	0	0
2026vs Right	.216	183	38	17	35	7	0	1
2025vs Left	.209	181	55	11	34	2	2	8
2025vs Right	.226	620	134	40	130	24	5	6
2024vs Left	.321	157	38	14	45	5	0	5
2024vs Right	.200	556	128	43	101	11	1	8
More Splits→	View More Split Stats

Home/Away Pitching Splits

Since 2024

-1%

ERA at Home

2026

-61%

ERA on Road

2025

-28%

ERA at Home

2024

-1%

ERA at Home

	ERA	WHIP	IP	W	L	SV	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
Since 2024Home	3.04	1.15	183.1	12	7	0	8.2	2.9	0.4
Since 2024Away	3.08	1.08	248.0	22	11	0	8.6	2.5	0.7
2026Home	5.71	1.33	17.1	0	1	0	6.8	4.7	0.5
2026Away	2.23	0.88	44.1	4	2	0	7.5	2.0	0.0
2025Home	2.37	1.05	91.0	8	2	0	8.7	2.6	0.4
2025Away	3.28	1.14	104.1	11	3	0	8.7	2.2	0.9
2024Home	3.24	1.23	75.0	4	4	0	8.0	2.9	0.4
2024Away	3.26	1.12	99.1	7	6	0	9.0	3.0	0.9
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Stat Review

How does Max Fried compare to other starting pitchers?

This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.

K/BB

2.63

K/9

7.3

BB/9

2.8

HR/9

0.1

Fastball

93.8 mph

ERA

3.21

WHIP

1.01

BABIP

.253

GB/FB

1.54

Left On Base

66.0%

Exit Velocity

79.5 mph

Barrels/BBE

1.5%

Spin Rate

2224 rpm

Balls Hit 95+ MPH

19.7%

Swinging Strike

10.0%

Prospect Rankings History

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Defensive Stats

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Stats Vs Today's Lineup

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

The left-hander was limited to 14 starts due to injuries in 2023, but he stayed mostly healthy last season and finished with a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 166:57 K:BB over 174.1 innings (29 starts). Fried has made at least 28 starts in four of the last five 162-game seasons, so availability hasn't been a consistent concern since he established himself in Atlanta's rotation. With that said, he's topped 180 innings just once in his big-league career, so he shouldn't exactly be considered a workhorse. Fried's 23.2 percent strikeout rate was on par with his career average as he continues to rely on inducing grounders (58.8 percent groundball rate), so his fantasy ceiling can be a bit limited compared to other marquee starters. That means he's a bit more reliant on the defense behind him than many top-level starters. Fried inked a long-term deal with the Yankees, who ranked 10th in outs above average last year, although it's fair to apply a slight free agent tax on him for his first year in a new pressure-packed situation.

Fried was a highly targeted pitcher by fantasy managers during 2023 draft season, and he pitched to expectations when he was out on the mound. The problem for fantasy manager is Fried was only able to make 14 starts while missing more than half the season with hamstring, forearm, and a blister issue to wrap up the regular season. Fried looked fantastic around the injuries winning 8 of those 14 starts with career-best 26% strikeout rate and finally hitting that 20% K-BB% benchmark. The career 53% groundball rate pitcher also posted a career-best 58% groundball rate last season. There is zero performance concerns for Fried in 2024, but the forearm strain from last year happened and the lefty has exceeded 170 innings just once in his career. This season is Fried's last with Atlanta before he is eligible for free agency and the fact the extension-happy Atlanta has not yet signed Fried to a deal appears to speak volumes as to what they think of his future healthwise.

If you bought into Fried after the 2021 season, you were handsomely rewardef for your beliefs in 2022 as he matched his efforts with some slight improvements in outocomes to match his 14-7 record while shaving half a run from his ERA. Fried continues to shine as an exemplar for pitchers without elite fastball characteristics can excel in this league. Fried does an outstanding job with his fastball location to then keep hitters off balance with breaking balls and offspeed pitches generating both high volumes of soft contact as well as enough swings and misses for a better than average strikeout rate for a starting pitcher. We are often coached about the perils of building around starting pitching on fantasy rosters, but few pitchers have as high a floor as Fried does even if his ceiling is about as high as it can go in most scoring categories. Wins are truly the only variable here.

Fried picked up where he left off in 2020, and by season's end, he had a World Series ring. The southpaw will likely find himself in the top 15-20 pitcher conversation this draft season. Fried worked six or more complete innings 19 times in 2021 -- including two complete-game shutouts -- earning a decision in 14 of those 19 outings with his usual stinginess with walks and home runs thanks to his ability to generate groundballs in bunches. His postseason was bookended by six-inning scoreless outings, holding up a quality start and two unsightly outings against Houston and Los Angeles. It is worth watching to see how Fried bounces back from working nearly 195 innings in 2021, but that is really the only area of any concern with this talented lefty. Fried's curveball continues to be his meal ticket as the league has hit .185 off the pitch over the past three seasons with just four homers.

Fried slid seamlessly into the ace role for Atlanta after Mike Soroka went down with an Achilles tear in early August. The lefty was a perfect 7-0 during the regular season, allowing a mere two homers in 56 innings (4.9% HR/FB). He does not throw his fastball particularly hard or with much spin, but it's effective nonetheless and does its job setting up one of the best curveballs in the game. Fried's curveball had a 31.2 Whiff% in 2020, with opponents combining to hit just .175 against the pitch. While his third pitch is another variation of the breaker -- a slider -- it's good enough and distinct enough that it gives him a third unique look, compensating for the lack of a fully developed changeup. His O-Swing% and SwStr% portend a better strikeout rate than his 22.3% mark from last season and the team context is favorable, so expect the 27-year-old to be a popular SP2 target during draft season.

A strong spring coupled with injuries to Atlanta's rotation allowed Fried to break camp as the team's fifth starter and the lefty never looked back. He wound up making 30 starts and three relief appearances, finishing with 17 wins -- good for second most in the NL -- and 173 strikeouts across a career-high 165.2 innings. Much of Fried's success can be attributed to his improved control (2.6 BB/9) and updated repertoire; he ditched his changeup in favor of a slider that held opponents to a .240 wOBA, which he paired with his solid fastball and a curve which is one of the best in baseball. While his 4.02 ERA was unremarkable, the underlying numbers suggest Fried deserved better (3.72 FIP, 3.42 xFIP), as his batted-ball profile (53.6 GB% and 4.4 Barrel%) did not support his high home-run rate (1.1 HR/9). His team context is favorable and his rotation spot is safe; you're justified in getting aggressive.

Fried put together a decent run with the Braves last year, but it was a small sample, and he worked primarily out of the bullpen with the big club (five starts in 14 total appearances). His larger body of work as a starter at Triple-A left something to be desired; Fried finished with a 4.61 ERA in his 13 starts for Gwinnett, though the underlying numbers were more encouraging (24.4 K%, 3.56 FIP). Even with those better peripherals, Fried was still seen as a long shot to break camp in the big-league rotation, but he did just that, beating out the likes of Touki Toussaint and Kyle Wright in spring training. The curveball is his best pitch, but Fried has also gained some steam on his fastball, now averaging 94 mph. A Tommy John survivor, Fried has maxed out at 118.2 innings and the team has made it clear that it will take measures to limit Fried's innings later in the season. How exactly the Braves go about doing that remains to be seen.

Fried debuted in the big-league rotation in September, but if he could have been developed on a perfect timetable, he may not have made his big-league debut until late 2018. Unfortunately, he missed significant developmental time in 2014 and 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and needed to be added to the 40-man roster after 2016 -- when he spent the entire season at Low-A. This, coupled with the insane pitching depth in the Braves' system, accelerated his timetable, leading to an assignment to Double-A in 2017, skipping High-A altogether, and a brief two-start run at Triple-A before reaching the majors. Suffice to say, he is not quite ready to consistently get big-league hitters out. On the bright side, the 6-foot-4 southpaw has a two plus pitches in his fastball and curveball, and he figures to start the year at Triple-A, thanks to some veteran additions to the rotation. He still has No. 3 starter upside, but needs to improve his changeup and his command.

For the past two years, Fried has been more myth than substance, undoubtedly testing the patience of his dynasty league owners. He missed most of 2014 and all of 2015 due to Tommy John surgery. At 22, he was a couple years older than most of the high-end talent at Low-A, but that was his assignment, as he was closer to 19 or 20 in baseball years. Fried's repertoire, which features a low-to-mid-90s fastball, plus curveball and average changeup that flashes plus, proved too much for Low-A hitters to handle, leading to a 26.4 percent strikeout rate. As with most pitchers in their first year back from elbow surgery, Fried's command and feel took a while to return to form, but judging from his second half, he was back to resembling a future No. 3 starter by year's end. The 6-foot-4 southpaw notched a 3.26 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 52:11 K:BB in his final 38.2 innings.

Fried did not pitch in 2015 following Tommy John surgery in August of 2014. Drafted seventh overall out of high school in 2012, he was the centerpiece in the deal that sent Justin Upton to San Diego last winter. Before suffering the UCL injury, Fried mostly struggled between rookie ball and Low-A, but the results so far hardly matter as he was just 20 years old when he threw his last in-game pitch. Standing 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds, Fried features three pitches which project as average or better in time, with his low-to-mid 90s fastball and biting curveball both having the potential to be plus offerings, and he has shown a strong feel for a changeup as well. His command and control are still works in progress, and may be the last things that return to him following reconstructive elbow surgery (as is typical). The rebuilding Braves will be sure to monitor Fried's pitch counts and workload throughout the year, but if Fried can avoid any further elbow issues and even flash his potential in 2016, his prospect star will be back on the rise.

Fried experienced elbow soreness in February, and while it appeared as though he would be ready to contribute at High-A at some point during the season following rest and rehab, he tossed just 10.2 innings in 2014 before he was shut down in late July with the nagging injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August, which will likely table his development for the bulk of 2015, although it's possible that he will be far enough along in his rehab to log time in the Arizona Fall League or in winter ball. When the Padres drafted him ninth overall in 2012, Fried drew comps to Cole Hamels and Clayton Kershaw, boasting a low-90s fastball, a cutter, and an excellent curveball as a teenager. Traded to the Braves as part of the Justin Upton deal in December, Fried will continue his rehab with a new organization this season. The ceiling is high enough to consider stashing him away in dynasty leagues, even though it's now unlikely that he'll pitch in the big leagues before 2017.

Fried, the Padres' 2012 first-round pick, exhibited some control issues in his first full professional season at Low-A Fort Wayne, posting a 4.3 BB/9 over 23 starts (118.2 innings). Drafted out of high school, Fried is polished for his age and he offers an outstanding arsenal -- featuring an elite curveball and developing changeup as secondary offerings that he utilizes effectively off of his four-seam and two-seam fastballs. He's also a very projectable left-hander with a 6-foot-4 frame. The left-hander posted a shiny 2.09 GO/AO mark in his full-season debut, which offsets his 7.6 K/9, although he's expected to miss more bats as he continues to refine his stuff.

The seventh overall pick of the 2012 draft, Fried pitched only 17.2 innings in the Arizona Rookie League, before calling it a year. Scouts are most impressed by the lefty's command and his curveball. In 2013, expect Fried to be among the most heavily followed prospects in the Padres' system as he has the physical build and potential of an elite starting pitcher. Considering the possibility for a limited workload in his first full professional season, Fried may be held back at extended spring training before getting his first exposure to the Midwest League.

More Fantasy News

Sent to IL with elbow bone bruise

PNew York Yankees

Elbow

May 15, 2026

The Yankees placed Fried on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left elbow bone bruise, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Analysis
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Set for imaging on sore elbow

PNew York Yankees

Elbow

May 13, 2026

Fried was removed from Wednesday's start in Baltimore after three innings due to left posterior elbow soreness, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

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Roughed up for five runs in loss

PNew York Yankees

May 8, 2026

Fried (4-2) took the loss Friday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings.

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No-decision vs. Orioles

PNew York Yankees

May 3, 2026

Fried didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

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Extends scoreless streak in win

PNew York Yankees

April 27, 2026

Fried (4-1) earned the victory versus Texas on Monday, allowing four hits and issuing two walks while striking out five batters over six scoreless innings.

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Latest Fantasy Rumors

Candidate to win Gold Glove

PNew York Yankees

October 16, 2025

Fried is one of three pitchers nominated to win the 2025 Gold Glove Award in the American League, according to MLB.com.

Analysis
Fried won three straight gold gloves from 2020 to 2022 with Atlanta and is now close to adding to that tally in his first year with the Yankees. The other two pitchers selected as finalists are Jacob deGrom and Luis Severino. Fried went 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA across 32 starts in the regular season.

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