Max Fried will take the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday despite the impending birth of his child. The left-hander confirmed he will be ready to pitch at Yankee Stadium, stating his family understands the demands of his job and that the personal situation will not impact his performance on the field.
This game represents a critical moment for the Yankees as they face a potential sweep by the Rays, who secured victories in the first two games of the series. Following a series of difficult defensive and pitching displays, the Yankees are relying on Fried’s deep pitch mix to neutralize a Tampa Bay lineup that has proven effective at putting pressure on opposing teams.
According to Yahoo Sports, Fried enters the game with a 5-5 record and a 2.80 ERA, coming off a strong performance against the Boston Red Sox where he allowed only one run over six innings. The Rays have opted to start right-hander Nick Martinez, who carries a 15-6 record and a 3.10 ERA, though he struggled in his last regular-season outing by allowing four runs in less than three innings.
New York pitching coach Matt Blake expressed confidence in the choice of Fried, noting that the team prefers his approach against the current Rays roster. Statistics show Tampa Bay struggled against left-handed pitching throughout the season, recording the sixth-worst OPS in the league. The Yankees are hoping this tactical advantage will extend their postseason run.